Kano gov vows to crash poverty, roll out N260m women start-up capital

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has vowed to reduce the scourge of poverty and unemployment, reassuring his pledge to boost economic empowerment of women in Kano.

Governor Yusuf renewed the commitment on Tuesday while flagging the distribution of another N260 million monthly empowerment facility to indigent women at Coronation Hall, Kano.

The governor expressed concern over the poverty index, which indicated a 62 percent poverty rate in Kano, with 10.5 million multi-dimensional people below the poverty line.

He added that his administration would go the extra mile to reverse this ugly trend.
To mitigate the poor status, Yusuf said his administration initiated N50,000 each for 5,200 women monthly to boost small-scale businesses and enterprises in Kano.

He reaffirmed that the monthly start-up facility, which was unveiled in May 2024, is free of any collateral or interest attached.

The governor stressed that beyond economic empowerment, the N260 million monthly start-up fund is part of fulfilling his campaign promises aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, improving socio-economic well-being, and human capital development.

He added that the government is also investing significant resources in youth and women’s skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, wealth and job creation, as well as urban renewal.

The governor, however, cautioned the beneficiaries on the judicious use of the money, insisting that it is not meant to be given to their husbands or used for ceremonial purposes.

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He said, “Since May 2024, our administration has empowered 48,600 indigent women and boosted micro-economic growth in our rural communities with the monthly distribution of N50,000 each to 5,200 women randomly selected across the 44 local governments of Kano State.

“Our intention is to reduce poverty and ensure the indigent women become self-reliant with working capital resources. The monthly distribution is not a loan facility, and the government is not demanding interest. The start-up is free.

“A poverty index of Kano shows 62 percent poverty, with 10.5 million multi-dimensional people. This data reminds us that we have to work hard to get our people out of poverty. To mitigate this catastrophic situation, we have also registered 300,000 indigent people on free healthcare insurance and several thousand have enrolled in public schools.

“20 beneficiaries each were selected from Tudun-Wada, Ajingi, Doguwa, Rogo, Shannon, Gwarzo, Takai, Albasu, Bebeji, Garko, Kibiya, Bunkure, Dawakin-Tofa, Dawakin-Kudu, Warawa, and Tsanyawa local government areas for the symbolic presentation of the N50,000.”