FG to empower Chibok community with farm tools worth N210 million

Federal Government has said that it will empower Chibok community in Borno State with farming equipment and other skill acquisition accessories worth N210 million naira toward revitalising the economy of the area, after the unfortunate unsettling of the community in 2014, the kidnapping of school girls from Girls Secondary School, Chibok

Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed this yesterday when a delegation from Chibok community, led by its District Head, Engr. Ahmadu Usman paid her a courtesy call in her office in Abuja.

She explained that the funds were raised after due consultation with the management of the American University, Yola where it was agreed that 50% of the monies paid by the federal government as school fees for the kidnapped Chibok girls who were later released, should be invested back into assisting the affected families and community in order to raise their standard of living.

According to her, this was aimed at giving the affected families as well as community at large, a form of relief from the psychological trauma experienced after the terrible incident, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

“In this government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we do things transparently that is why we tell you what and what will be bought so that you know what to expect. We need one person in each of the family of the kidnapped victims for this empowerment. We went to make sure they benefit.

“We will check for others very vulnerable families and pick out one person each. We will not only depend on this intervention, we will put these beneficiaries on our scheme by bringing in the bank’s to set up accounts for them, on-board them into our system so that they can benefit from further government interventions, she said

The Minister points that government is commitment to the wellbeing of children, women and the vulnerable in the society that is why in collaboration with the American University, fifty percent of the N420 million raised is used to procure Industrial Machines for milling of rice and corn, solar pumping machine, (for irrigation farming), fish grilling machine, sewing machines, tricycle trucks, amongst others in order to improve the Community’s means of livelihood as well as for socio-economic growth and development

Director-General, Maryam Babangida National Center for Women’s Development, (MBNCWD), Dr. Asabe Bashir said that the empowerment of the Chibok Community will go a long way to restore some form of hope in the lives of members of the community

She called on the Chibok beneficiaries to key into the project to ensure a transformation of their living standard so as to ensure the realization of the policy thrust of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Responding, District Head, Chibok community, Engr. Ahmadu Usman, thanked President Bola Tinubu in particular and the minister of Women affairs, for the initiative aimed at reviving, empowering and restoring hope to the community.

He assured that when procured, the equipment will help to boost the economy of the Community, state and nation at large, assuring that the community will put them to good use for the benefit of the affected families and community.