Dangote splashes N540m to Borno women, youths

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has splashed the sum of N540 million to vulnerable women and youths of Borno state through a micro-grant national programme instituted by Dangote foundation.

Speaking at the ceremony in Maiduguri, Dangote said the Foundation in response to the widespread poverty in Nigeria, in 2011, instituted a cash transfer intervention called the  the Dangote Micro-grants Programme, to provide cash transfers to select poor and vulnerable Nigerians.  The disbursement is expected to be completed in 24 months.

'Our Programme provides a one-off grant that enables recipients to grow or start an enterprise, invest in product assets, improve the health of their families, and/or take on new activities that reduce their vulnerability and enhance their economic standing. It has successfully assisted women and their families in Kano and Jigawa States,' he said.

According to the Chairman of Dangote Group, the cash transfer intervention Programme is national in scope and will systematically cover all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria, working through partnerships with state governments.

'This is in keeping with Dangote Foundation's belief in working through partnerships for effectiveness, scale and impact in tackling the challenges that we face as a nation. This is a key feature of the Programme which aims to support and compliment state governments' poverty reduction efforts,' he said.

In his appreciation remarks, governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, expressed the appreciation of his government and people to Dangote for the rare gesture to the state.

'In line with his enormous contributions to humanity, especially the less privileged, Alhaji Aliko Dangote through the Dangote Foundation, donated N540 million in the form of N10, 000 direct transfer to 54, 000 vulnerable women and 13, 000 across Borno State's 27 local government areas. 'We are grateful the disbursement is ongoing with payments being made in batches, the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria. Persons impacted by insurgency in our state, including orphans, widows, female-headed households, unemployed youths and other vulnerable people are the beneficiaries of this programme.'