The Federal Government has begun the disbursement of grants to about 2,500 women in Abia State under the Cash Grant Project for Rural Women.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq launched the disbursement in Umuahia on Friday.
Umar-Farouq who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry,Mr Bashir- Nuru Alkali said the programme was part of the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Programme ( NSIP).
The Minister said that the Cash Grant Project for Rural Women was introduced in 2020 to sustain the social inclusion agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
She said it was designed to provide a one -off grant to the poorest and most vulnerable in some of the remote rural and semi- urban areas in the country.
According to her, about 125,000 poor women across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT would benefit from the grant adding that a cash grant of,20,000 would be disbursed to 2,500 beneficiaries across the 17 local government areas of Abia State to improve their living standards.
Earlier the Governor,Okezie Ikpeazu had commended the Federal Government for the initiative which he described as a way of improving livelihood and growing rural economy.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ude Oko- Chukwu urged the beneficiaries to judiciously invest the money in petty businesses.
