…Approves N100k interest-free loan for women, parades highest number of female perm secs
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has boasted that his administration is the most gender-sensitive since the history of the state.
Otti who made the boast in his goodwill message to Abia women for the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration, said that four women head sensitive ministries in his administration.
He also added that 17 out of the 24 Permanent Secretaries in the state are all women, a development he said, demonstrated his high value for women.
The Governor in the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, commended women for their resilience and devotion to duty, not only at the home front but also at workplace and society at large.
This, according to the Governor, has been, despite numerous challenges that both nature and society have imposed on them.
He described Nigerian women as “the epitome of grace, knowledge, beauty and strength, who have achieved so much in different areas of life, globally.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s IWD, “Inspire Inclusion,” Otti said his government had been “deliberate about empowering women through improved budgetary allocation to the various sectors that have direct implications on the welfare and well-being of the women and the girl child as well as appointment of women to strategic positions in government.”
He said: “Here, in Abia State, our administration is highly gender sensitive and this has seen to the increased number of women appointed into the State Executive Council and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government.
“It is worthy of note that women occupy strategic positions in health, education , agriculture and poverty alleviation in the State Executive Council, while out of the total 24 Permanent Secretaries in the state, 17 of them are women. This is unprecedented in the history of the state’s civil service.
“Our administration has also demonstrated commitment in the payment of counterpart fund for the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP); a project that seeks to support improved livelihoods for women in targeted areas of Abia and Nigeria, by influencing social norms related to gender equality, promoting social inclusion and establishing institutional platforms that improve women’s access to critical life, business and technical skills,” Governor Otti enumerated in a statement issued from his office.
The Governor stated further that he had already given approval for the state to begin immediate disbursement of funds at zero interest to women entrepreneurs among other operators of small and micro enterprises in the rural areas, through the state’s cooperative programme.
“This is in fulfillment of our campaign promise to empower our women in building their businesses at the grassroots and help to create wealth across the state. No less than 50 persons per ward are expected to receive the sum of N100,000, each,” he disclosed.
Governor Otti thanked all Abia women, including his wife, Priscilla, for their support, and for having faith in him, as their Governor.
He promised to continue to seek the advancement of women in the state.
