23rd October, 2021
By Angela Atabo
Ms. Aisha Babangida, the Executive Director of the Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman (BLPRAW) on Saturday said that rural women from 16 states were empowered with entrepreneurial skills by the organization.
Babangida, who disclosed this in a statement she personally signed expressed the importance of providing not just basic adult literacy education for the rural women; but also support their entrepreneurial skills for economic growth.
The statement quoted her saying this in Abuja while making a remark at the premiere of a short film titled: “HER MAJESTY” developed and sponsored by the organisation.
She said that supporting women would enable them to gain access to affordable resource materials to use either as a singular unit of a community or as a group.
‘Twenty-four women from different states (Enugu, Anambra, Oyo, Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Delta, Ogun, Niger, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Benue, Edo, Nasarawa and Kogi) were beneficiaries of the organization’s target.
“This is to provide support to rural women across Nigeria and they had the opportunity to share their stories and experiences.
“Each day, more women fall into the category of vulnerability due to the harsh economic situation in the country.
“These range from job loss, insecurity to unavailability of resources, these continuously put a strain on living day to day as well as alight fear of the future which further puts a tremendous amount of stress on the women, ” she said.
Babangida said that BLPRAW believed that it was the responsibility of all citizens to participate in assisting rural women in their communities, no matter how small or great the contributions might be.
She said that there were various resources as well as activities that people could do or provide to help rescue the rural women from poverty.
She added that BLPRAW would be updating its website as well as social media platforms with information concerning its present and future beneficiaries.
She said the organisation would not only highlight the stories of rural women but always highlight their needs in ways that public contributions would be of great help to them and their communities.
“By doing this, we intend to help the public, as well as future stakeholders of BLPRAW, identify and support the goal of providing sustainable development resources and activities in the continued journey of supporting the rural African women.
“On behalf of the rural women and our team of dedicated members, we say humble thanks to everyone who continues to support us and the work we do,” she said.
According to the statement, the premiere had in attendance Dame Pauline Tallen Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, Director-General of the International Women’s Conference Centre, Hajiya Aminu Aliyu, Mrs. Ngozi Madaki and Hajiya Saadatu Sani Musa.