Farmers empower 3,850 disabled persons with cargo tricycles

The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has empowered 3,850 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) with cargo tricycles to alleviate the current economic hardship

To alleviate the current economic hardship, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has provided 3,850 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) with cargo tricycles to facilitate the transport of goods across towns, cities, and villages in northern Nigeria, boosting their incomes.

This support, under the forum’s Integrated Community-Led Scale-Up (ICON2) project funded by the MasterCard Foundation, has also created job opportunities for 57,750 PWDs. The project has supported community seed production hubs, provided processing workspaces, and trained individuals in fashion design, fabrication, and mobile phone repairs.

WOFAN has additionally assisted 9,000 youths in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), forming 300 groups of young loaders and transporters who received cargo tricycles to enhance their job opportunities and income.

At an event marking International Youth Day (IYD) in Kudai, Jigawa State, WOFAN’s Executive Director, Hajia Salamatu Garba, revealed that the ICON2 project aims to support 675,000 youths across nine Nigerian states over five years to develop sustainable livelihoods and improve their quality of life.

Garba stated that the initiative aligns with the foundation’s Young Africa Works-Nigeria 2021-2030 strategy, which aims to enable 10 million youths, including 7 million young women, to secure dignified and fulfilling employment.

Garba’s representative, WOFAN’s Finance Manager Abdulrasheed Abdulazeez, highlighted that the ICON2 project specifically targets loaders, transporters, and PWDs, who are often overlooked by other interventions. Groups of 30 members each were formed and trained on group management and enterprise management, leading to the establishment of new businesses with project support.

The Chief Imam of Kudai, Gwani Alaramma Malam Isah, praised WOFAN’s commitment to youth empowerment and support for PWDs, while Traditional Leader of Aujara (Hakimin Aujara), Alhaji Aminu Danmalam, commended WOFAN’s transformative work in Jigawa State and pledged ongoing support.