One thousand vulnerable women in Borno state are to benefit from the federal government High level joint mission cash transfer and risk communication and community engagement project in the state with the cash support of N30,000 each

The projects which is anchored by the Federal ministry of Women’s Affairs under the United Nations Basket Fund support National COVID 19 Multi sectoral pandemic response in Nigeria in collaboration with the Borno state are to benefit 1,000 vulnerable women, which includes widows, aged women, physically challenged and those with HIV/AIDs

While flagging off the High level Joint Mission Cash Transfer and Risk Communication and Community Engagement Projects at the Multi Purpose Hall of the Government House, Maiduguri on Friday, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Hon. Pauline Tallen said “this visit and Cash Transfer flag-off coincides with the Women’s Month, 1st 31st March 2021 and I am happy that Borno is the second state being flagged-off after Akwa-Ibom state. Under the project 1,000 beneficiaries are to receive N15,000 each in two tranches (total of N30,000 each) between now and May 2021.”

“With COVID-19 threatening lives and livelihoods, we have witnessed increased armed banditry, insurgency, child molestation, spike in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, reinforced patriarchy and increase in kidnapping of innocent school children, amongst others. But we are more determined to ensure that, the Nigerian women and child, especially the girl child receives good and quality education. I will like to also commend Your Excellency in making sure that schools are open in the State”, the minister said.

The minister who was represented by the Borno state Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said “the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Social Mobilization Basket Fund Project was conceived to contribute to strengthening resilience and coping capacity of some of the most covid-19 affected households, including vulnerable female-headed households, poor women with disability, widows and women living with HIV/AIDs with a view to bring about improve livelihoods to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 and gender based violence among the groups.”

While appreciating President Buhari and Governor Zulum for their supports, Hon. Tallen said “I thank Mr. President who promptly responded by declaring zero tolerance to Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the wake of the pandemic and constituted an Inter-Ministerial Gender Based Violence Management Committee to address all forms of violence against women and children in the country. I also like to commend Your Excellency for your leadership, guidance and support towards a successful hosting of the various preliminary activities on the project since November, 2020.”

Also speaking, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Isa Marte said all activities geared towards empowering women will continue to receive the support of government at all levels in the state, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the devastating and the most challenging the world ever had.

He said currently in the efforts to mitigate the spreed of the Corona Virus, 8 different vaccines have been develop by scientists and urged women in the state to make themselves available for the vaccination, as prevention is better than cure.

In his goodwill message, the Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDs (NACA), Dr Aliyu Gumel represented by Dr John Ngoshe said the UN championed basket fund is aimed at developing the resilience of the vulnerable widows, aged women, physically and HIV infected women.

In her welcome address, the Borno state Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said ” the ministry have been working closely with the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), National Council of Women Society (NCWS), , Girls Guide, National Social Safety Nets to key into how best to address COVID 19 pandemic and I wish to assure you that a lot of successes has been achieved.*

She assured that the ministry is well poised to support the National Multi sectoral COVID-19 pandemic response team by educating and mobilizing our communities and provision of relief assistance.

Source: Dailyhintnews.com.ng