Wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Fatima Aliyu, has convened a stakeholders’ meeting to explore ways of ensuring that women at the grassroots benefit more from various government interventions and support programmes.

Addressing participants at the meeting, the first lady stated that the gathering was aimed at fine-tuning strategies to ensure that grassroots women fully benefit from the numerous government support initiatives across the state.

She explained that since the inception of her husband’s administration, her office had introduced many intervention and support programmes targeted at improving the lives of women in the state.

“We have realised that rural women benefit less from some of these initiatives, hence the need to review our approach and ensure that support reaches them more effectively.

“Women at the grassroots often face enormous challenges; therefore, there is a need for collective responsibility to ensure that the support meant for them gets to them efficiently,” she said.

She added that the stakeholders’ meeting brought together key actors whose collaboration would help her office achieve the desired outcomes.

Mrs Aliyu further disclosed that her office distributed various food items and cash assistance to widows, elderly women and other vulnerable groups across the state, to cushion the effect of economic hardship and provide relief to those in need.

She also stated that hundreds of women farmers had been trained in modern farming techniques and provided with financial support to start or expand their businesses. In addition, many unemployed women have been trained in various trades such as knitting, baking, pomade and perfume production, as well as hairdressing under the administration’s poverty reduction programme.

She acknowledged the efforts of Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his continued support towards improving the welfare of the people of the state.

According to her, the present administration has introduced many programmes aimed at supporting the needy, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons, to make their lives more meaningful and dignified.

Adding that thousands of women received grants under the SOSMEDA initiative to start and expand their businesses, she noted that the programme created opportunities for self-reliance and economic independence, particularly for women and youths.

In addition, skills acquisition programmes implemented through SOSMEDA, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and the Ministry for Local Government Affairs have trained thousands of unemployed youths and women in various trades and vocations.

Earlier, the State APC Women Leader, Rabi Tudun Wada, commended the wife of the governor for initiating various support programmes aimed at improving the lives of women across the state.

She called on women leaders across the 23 local councils to support government policies and programmes by ensuring that grassroots women enjoy the dividends of democracy.