Group empower 78 young entrepreneurs in 10 Bauchi LGA
Ahmed Ahmed
Plan International, an International Non Governmental Organization (NGO) under the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria (ASPIRE) project has distributed start-up kits to 78 members of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in10 local Government Council(LGA) in Bauchi.
Mr Murtala Bello, National Project Manager of ASPIRE,disclosed this during the distribution of Income Generating Activity (IGA) start-up kits on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said the intervention was aimed at strengthening the skills, confidence, financial independence and economic resilience of adolescent girls and young women through small-scale businesses and vocational enterprises.
According to him, the beneficiaries were trained in entrepreneurship skills and business development.
He said that the training were in trades such as tailoring, hairdressing, restaurant and food services, shoemaking, graphic design, baking, photography and makeup artistry.
Bello said the ASPIRE Project, supported by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Plan International Nigeria.
“The project also integrates awareness on gender-based violence prevention and response, referral pathways, SRHR information and psychosocial wellbeing, ensuring that economic empowerment is linked to broader wellbeing, safety and agency,” he said.
Bello described the distribution of start-up kits as a major milestone in the project’s economic empowerment strategy.
According to him, the VSLA model has strengthened financial literacy, savings culture, peer support, leadership and participation of young women in household and community decision-making.
He listed the distributed items to include tailoring equipment, photography tools graphic, design kits, baking equipment, hairdressing kits, restaurant service materials, shoemaking kits and makeup kits.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Lydia Tsammani, commended Plan International and Global Affairs Canada for supporting adolescent girls and young women in the state.
Represented by the Acting Director of Women Affairs,Mrs Hadiza Ahmad, said the ministry played a key role in establishing the ASPIRE VSLA groups.
She disclosed that 10 Women Development Officers, two ministry staff and 14 young female facilitators were trained under the project, leading to the establishment of more than 30 VSLA groups across 10 local government areas.
According to her, the project has strengthened entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business management skills among women and girls, while also promoting awareness on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence prevention and response.
Mr Nasiru Mohammed, Senior Project Manager, Plan International, appreciated Bauchi state Government and other stakeholders for supporting the project.
In their various testimonies,a cross section of beneficiaries expressed said that the ASPIRE Project, saying the support had improved their economic contributions to livelihood, reduced out of school children and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
