Dangote Foundation Empowers Women With N130m Grant

The Aliko Dangote Foundation, under its micro-grant scheme, on Wednesday, commenced the disbursement of N130 million to 13,000 women in Nasarawa state.

The chairman of the foundation, Aliko Dangote while flagging-off the disbursement in Lafia, stated that the scheme was one of the aspects of the economic empowerment programme of the foundation.

According to him, the grant was targeted at providing the disadvantaged and vulnerable in the society with an unconditional N10, 000 cash transfer to boost their household income generation.

“This we believe will help the beneficiaries meet their livelihood needs,” he added.

Dangote said that the scheme, which started a few years back, was targeted at a minimum of 1,000 women in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

“It is estimated that we will spend about N10 billion on the scheme, some states with large population will get a little bit more than others,” he said.

Dangote said that he started the foundation in 1993 to improve the lives of the less privileged, and  make a positive difference in the growth of the country’s by supporting social and economic changes through strategic investment and interventions.

He listed health and nutrition, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief as the four major goals of the foundation.

According to him, Access bank would collaborate with the foundation by opening bank accounts for the all the 13,000 beneficiaries in the state, so they can be issued with customised debit cards.

According to him, the beneficiaries’ accounts have been credited with the grant and that the bank’s agents have been adequately trained and mobilised to provide the beneficiaries with the basic banking activities.

“The foundation and the Access bank team will be going to each of the 13 LGAs in the state to distribute the cards to the selected beneficiaries in order to be able to redeem their cash,” Dangote said.

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, while speaking at the event, appluaded Dangote for the gesture describing it as strategic, considering the hardship currently pervading the society.

“The efforts of the foundation is in tandem with the Federal Government’s social investment programme aimed at providing succor to the aged, vulnerable groups and the poorest of the poor in the society,” he said.