The Kaduna state government has expressed support for the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Likelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project’s programs for women and youth, noting that women and youth empowerment is dear to the state.
APPEALS is a World Bank-sponsored agric project in five states of Lagos, Kaduna, Kogi, Cross Rivers and Kano states, aimed at empowering the less privileged with emphasis on women and youth by training and engaging them in improved agricultural practices.
The deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, disclosed this in Kaduna while declaring open APPEALS’ Inception Meeting of the Technical Assistance for the Preparation and Review of Business Investment Plan (BIP) for Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) beneficiaries in Kaduna state.
Balarabe, who was represented by Barrister James Wuyep, said: “the Women, Youth Empowerment Program (WYEP), is dear to Kaduna state government. We would like to see it make progress to the benefit of the citizens and in line with our objectives.”
Addressing the meeting, APPEALS Women and Youth Livelihood Specialist, Ibrahim Yakubu, said the Project’s Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) component has registered 484 business names with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Ibrahim said engagement letters were issued to successful 1,700 beneficiaries in December 2019, adding that the beneficiaries were trained at three different centres, while “those yet to be trained due to outbreak of Covid-19 will get their training in November, this year.”