By Olukayode Babalola
Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs has empowered 1200 women and youths across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa state to alleviate their hardships and make them self reliant.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated this at the empowerment programme tagged “Renewed Hope Women and Youths Empowerment and Health Outreach” held in Keffi local government area on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture is in commemoration of the Minister’s one year in office as the honorable Minister of Women Affairs.
The Minister said the gesture is also to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Women, Children and for Families and the successes recorded so far.
“It’s been one year since i have been entrusted with this responsibility and it is worthy of celebration because we have been able to gain grounds when it comes to policy reforms, when it comes to interventions for women, children and for families.
“When it comes to institution strengthening and also expanding our workforce. So we are just celebrating progress of the Renewed Hope Agenda and I am so excited to have everyone here,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim who said the Renewed Hope Agenda programme will continue to impact lives across the country explained that the programme which is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, aims at empowering women and youths economically to improve their well-being.
She then mentioned the items distributed to beneficiaries to include: sewing machines, solar panels, grinding machines, cooking gas cylinders, water pumping machines for irrigation farming, wrappers, food items and cash grants for nano businesses, among others.
“About 1200 beneficiaries are benefitting today across different intervention areas. From energy to menstrual hygiene. We have menstrual pass here. We are also doing medical intervention to other areas of intervention.
“Clean cooking, clean energy, household support, women economic empowerment. We are scaling up to meet the yearnings of many Nigerians especially women,” she said.
She assured that the intervention will continue to be offered periodically because according to her, President Tinubu takes women economic empowerment as a priority and has put women, children and families at the centre of national development.
The Minister then urged women in Nasarawa State to remain committed and take advantage of the programme’s opportunities.
Also speaking, Mr Bello Goronyo, Minister of State for Works expressed happiness and appreciation for the Minister’s efforts to give back to the community and offer the less privileged hope.
“Let me say that Imaan is someone I know that is being loved by her people. And she also loves her people. She always like to give back. And that is why she is being loved. This is the kind of representation Mr President cherishes” he said.
He said the empowerment demonstrated the Minister’s efforts in actualizing the mandates given by the president to members of his cabinet.
Goronyo called on the community to rally round and support the President, assuring them that more dividends of democracy will come their way.
“By the special grace of God, from 2027, the President, Mr. Tinubu when he comes again to office, he is going to complete a number of programmes that have been started, and he is going to consolidate the gains that we have achieved so far,” he said.
On his part, Dr Aliyu Bello, Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state commended the Minister for her dedication to alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians, particularly women and youths, following the removal of fuel subsidy.
The APC Chairman noted that the Minister’s efforts were in line with the President’s renewed hope agenda which is aimed at bringing relief to Nigerians.
The APC Chairman in Nasarawa state also praised the federal government for its efforts in stabilizing the economy, noting that prices of foodstuff were gradually reducing.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to consider elevating the Minister to a higher and more inclusive ministry.
“For those who are calling for the removal of the minister, I want to let them know that we are calling on President Bola Tinubu to even elevate her to a higher and more inclusive ministry not only for the one exclusively for women,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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