The Yobe State Government has approved N460.83 million to empower female small business owners, including akara sellers, across the state.
The approval was part of resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House, Damaturu, on Thursday.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, said the intervention is aimed at supporting women engaged in small-scale businesses through the provision of essential items to boost their livelihoods.
“The State Executive Council has approved the sum of N460,828,450.00 for the procurement of beans for distribution to female small business owners as empowerment support.
“These will be distributed along with cooking oil, smokeless stoves, cooking utensils and kitchenware, which have already been procured and stored by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation.
“A total of 1,780 50kg bags of beans will be distributed to beneficiaries,” he said.
Bego said the empowerment package forms part of the Buni administration’s efforts to improve the living conditions of women and strengthen small-scale businesses across the state.
He also disclosed that the council approved N364.48 million for the procurement of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines for distribution to residents under the state’s empowerment programme.
“Under the Ministry of Wealth Creation, the council has approved the sum of N364,475,000.00 for the procurement of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines for empowerment support to people across the state,” he said.
The commissioner further said the Executive Council approved projects and services worth N73.32 billion across critical sectors of the state’s economy.
According to him, the approvals “include N28.53 billion for the procurement of agricultural tools and implements for the state’s 2026 mega agricultural empowerment programme, N23.97 billion for two major road projects, as well as funding for housing, markets and other infrastructure projects.”