The Zamfara government says it has trained 120 women in digital literacy to improve their economic well-being.
The commissioner for women affairs, children and social development, A’isha Anka, stated this on Friday while receiving donations of menstrual items from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Gusau.
The commissioner, represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Suwaiba Ibrahim, said the participants were carefully selected from the 14 local government areas of the state.
She said the participants received the digital literacy training to make themselves self-sufficient by creating their own businesses.
Ms Ibrahim added that the 120 women received training through a partnership with Zamfara Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) and the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC).
“We equipped them on Digital Literacy Skills and provided each participant with an Android device, a certificate, and the sum of N100,000 start-up grant,” she said.
The commission said the present government had engaged women in different initiatives and programmes to enhance their well-being.
According to her, the administration of Gov. Dauda Lawal had changed the narrative of the state through the provision of developmental projects that have positively impacted the lives of people.
She also appreciated the Zamfara first lady, Huriyya Dauda Lawal, for her unwavering commitment to initiating various programmes that had socioeconomic impact on women and other vulnerable individuals in the state.
In his remarks, the UNFPA officer in charge of the Kaduna sub-office, Audu Alayande, said they were at the ministry to strengthen and support the state programmes in addressing menstrual hygiene.
Mr Alayande said the UNFPA was also providing various support in tackling gender-based violence (GVB), harmful traditional practices, and supporting women’s economic empowerment programmes, among others.
He noted that the UN agency was also in a position to donate menstrual panties to the ministry for onward distribution to vulnerable women, particularly those in rural areas or communities facing humanitarian crises.
Mr Alayande said UNFPA would also partner with the relevant agencies to train women in different basic skills that would increase their daily incomes.
He lauded the efforts of the state government for supporting the people, especially vulnerable women and children.
(NAN)