Local Women Project of MEDA saved over 700 million Naira in the last three years

The Local Women Project of MEDA Nigeria has saved over 700 million Naira in the last three years through its saving groups in seven local government areas of Bauchi state.

The Country Project Coordinator of MEDA Mrs Fossen Grace Okelola disclosed this on Tuesday during the Close Out gathering of MEDA’s activities in the state held at Warji Local Government.

Mrs Fossen Grace explained that in an effort to achieve a sustainable program, MEDA has formed and trained Women In Business Forum which has established a Micro Finance Institution that will maintain the stability of women business in the state.

The Country Coordinator, said as part of its sustainability strategy, MEDA has set up seven empowerment Learning Centres across the seven project implementation Local Government Areas that include, Bauchi, Katagum, Warji, Toro, Jama’are, Ganjuwa and Dass to replicate its interventions after the end of the project activities.

Mrs Grace added that, the project has trained over 18 Thousand clients in Business Development which involves learning strategies and skills to promote women businesses in the state.

She therefore tasked the Women In Business Forum and the Empowerment Learning Centre to sustain the initiative by MEDA in Warji and other Six LGAs in order to enhance their wellbeing..

On how the program was funded, the MEDA Country Project Coordinator said the seven year project was funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada to create business solutions to poverty.

Also speaking, the MEDA Community and liasing officer Malam Iliya Shu’aibu, said the project started since 2017 with lots of challenges before women and youth to accept the project, but now the positive result has been witnessed all over the state especially in the benefitting local government areas.

Malam Iliya, said with the formation of Gender Action Learning System has improved the relationship between spouses and reduces domestic violence in many families.

He therefore expressed satisfaction with the level of training and interventions given to its beneficiaries which made them to celebrate the close out event.

He affirmed that the achievement of the project will never realized without full support of traditional and religious leaders as well as Government officials and urged them not to relent.

Speaking on MEDA’s 3 value chain product processing which include rice, soya beans and groundnut, an official of MEDA Mr Salihu Samuel Wamdeo said the group has supported women with modern machines and technologies to improve their businesses in the state.

Mr Salihu, said the beneficiaries have enjoyed seventy percentage discount and assured the women that DEC will continue with the good work of MEDA in acquiring machines and technology.

He assured that adequate preparation were made to ensure full sustainability of MEDA activities in the state.

In his remarks, the Chairman caretaker committee of Warji Local Government Area, Alhaji Muhammad Shu’aibu represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Datti Kariya expressed delight over the activities of MEDA in the area and pledged total support and contribution toward the project Sustainability in Warji.

He commended MEDA for making impact in youth entrepreneurship and Women’s empowerment in Warji and called on the beneficiaries to extend the knowledge acquired to other people of Warji to become self reliance.

The District Head of Warji, Alhaji Ibrahim Samaila represented by Galadiman Warji Saleh Ahmed, expressed happiness on the MEDA’s intervention to the people of his Area and assured Traditional leaders’ support to sustain the good work.

In her remarks, the Ameera of FOMWAN of Jama’are local government applauded MEDA for eradicating forms of gender based violence and rehabilitate youthful negative mindsets in Warji Local Government Area and promised to sustain the training received from MEDA.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event testified the impact of the MEDA project on how their lives changed in terms of Girl child education, business record keeping, financial management, savings loan, marriage bonding among others.