The Victims Support Fund (VSF) on Saturday inaugurated a N30 million Women Economic Empowerment project for 1,500 women victims of insurgency in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas of Yobe.
Inaugurating the project in Bara town in Yobe, Prof. Sunday Ocheche, the Executive Director of the fund, said the 1,500 women were selected from the two Local Government Areas of the state.
He said, “every woman is receiving N20,000 to start a business for economic empowerment.”
Ocheche said the project would support the resettlement of victims displaced by the protracted security challenge in the areas.
The Director assured that part of the fund would be utilized in rebuilding Gujba Local Government Secretariat and the General Hospital in Buni Yadi.
Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa, Vice Chairman of the fund, said the project was meant to empower women to start their businesses.
“This project is intended to provide women victims of insurgency with a means to rebuild their families,” he said.
The State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, commended the Buhari administration for its commitment to fighting and defeating insurgency in the North East.
Gaidam, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hajara Lawan, said the project would complement the resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the state government.
Gaidam said the VSF empowerment programme would contribute to financial stability and enhancement of economic lives of the beneficiaries. (NAN)