Federal Government has inaugurated Rice Processing Factories in Niger State, under the Nigeria For Women Project; a World Bank Assisted programme.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, made a symbolic commissioning of the factories in Izom, Gurara local government area of the State.
The Rice Mills, spread across the 3 Senatorial Districts of the State are as follows, 13 in Gurara, 16 in Agaie, and 12 in Wushishi local government area of the state.
The Minister commended the Niger State government for her support to initiatives geared towards the development of Women in the State.
She explained that the Project has recorded huge success in Niger State due to the support and commitment of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, adding that it has given hope to many people, inline with the objective of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister revealed that the President intends to upscale the programme across the 36 States of the Federation for more positive impacts.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, who described the project as unprecedented, said women are good financial managers and very instrumental to the growth and development of any society.
He applauded the Federal Government and the World Bank for initiating such programme that have been improving the lives of many Women in the State.
The Governor assured that his administration will continue to provide the needed support for the success of the project.
He also said that as a way of encouraging the Women, the State Government will off-take the Rice from them to feed Boarding Students in the State.
The Governor revealed that the State government built a Crèche around the Mills so that adequate care would be provided to the Children of the Women and that a level 1 Primary Healthcare Centre will soon be constructed to cater for their health needs.
He also directed that a 5 km stretch of road be constructed from Izom to the Factory.
Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, in his remarks, reiterated the commitment of the State Government to uplifting the livelihoods of women and called on the Women of Gurara to continue to key into Government policies and programmes for their good.
The Task Team Leader, Nigeria For Women Project, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, appreciated the Farmer Governor for his commitment to gender equity and women’s socio-economic empowerment through the Nigeria for Women Project and other initiatives.
He explained that each of the Commissioned Rice Processing factory, has the capacity to produce two tons of Rice per day, pointing out that the rice processing Mills are among the 302 other projects supported by the Nigeria for Women Project Nationwide.
Mr. Ilesanmi disclosed that so far, the Nigeria for Women project has directly supported and significantly improved the livelihoods of 460,000 women in the country
The Chairman, Gurara Local Government Council, Abdulhalim Abubakar, described the project as a significant milestone in ensuring women are empowered economically.
He said the Mills will boost rice production, create employment opportunities and enhance income generation.
A symbolic cheque of N492 million was presented to all the 41 Women Groups in Niger State as Operational Cost.
The farmer Governor, along side the Minister of Women Affairs planted trees in the area inline with the Green Initiative of the State government.
