The Helpline Foundation for the needy, Abuja,  has given a grant of Twenty thousand naira each to forty market women and vulnerable widows  totalling Eight hundred thousand naira to start up or to boost their businesses.

 

The foundation which is in collaboration with Hajia Ramatu Tijani Abdullahi RTA Foundation of Kogi state revolving non profit scheme made the donation on Wednesday in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

The Helpline Foundation which is marking its 20th year anniversary had been actively participating in the uplifting the economic status of women and vulnerable in some states of Enugu, Nasarawa, FCT , and Niger, before it decided to domesticate the largesse to Kogi state .

 

According to the program officer of the Foundation, Damaris Yakubu, said, the organisation aimed to lift women  and vulnerable out of poverty by given a token as a start up or boosting capital to enhance their businesses thereby empowering their families.

Damaris Yakubu added that , what  the Beneficiaries need to do is to form a cluster of 20 persons of which 10 persons will get #20’000 each at first instance, and at every month, the group will meet and the first ten beneficiaries would remit #2, 000 each and pooled together and give to each of the remaining 10 women  in the cluster until every member has benefited.

 

She said the fund is neither political donation nor a loan, but a non profit arrangement for the benefits of the vulnerable women in the society.

She noted that the founder, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu has been critical about the economic well-being of widows, vulnerable  and young women , and has decided to launch the foundation to change the narrative of women , saying , the foundation has justified its calling as thousands of women across Nigeria have been empowered.

She urged the beneficiaries not to see the fund as a free donation by politicians which they would use for frivolities , but they should commit it to the growth of their businesses to uplift their families from multi dimensional poverty.

 

In a remark, the Representative  of the Founder of the foundation, Barrister Tina Tim’s,-Ejiga, assured participants of more packages which will be based on their efficient allocation and distribution of the fund in the first instance, saying , failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of the grant would deny many would be beneficiaries.

She advised the beneficiaries to invest the money into their businesses and not to use it for consumption or to pay school fees of their children and wards.

 

She said, the founder, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu who is from Olamaboro LGA of Kogi state, in partnership with the former Minister of state for Abuja, Dr. Ramatu Tijani were  passionate  about Kogi  women empowerment and  decided to extend the gesture to the widows, market women and vulnerable young women in Kogi state.

Some beneficiaries who spoke to Treasure times commended the foundation for coming to their aid promising to use the money to grow their petty businesses, assuring that from the grant many families would exit from poverty.

 

They commended the president of the foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu and the former minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Abdullahi for bringing down the packages to Kogi state to light up the businesses of widows and vulnerable Young ladies  in the state.

They promise to utilise the fund and to ensure that every member of the cluster is captured ,while praying God to grant them long lives and prosperity