TheCable

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) says it has disbursed N3.924 billion to 392,490 women and youth in 11 states as part of its micro-grant programme.

In a statement on Sunday, the foundation said beneficiaries were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Lagos, Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto and Katsina states.

Beneficiaries receive a one-time, unconditional N10,000 cash grant to meet immediate household consumption and economic needs.

The foundation said it plans to extend the disbursement of the micro-grant scheme to Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Edo, Rivers, Anambra, Ebonyi and Bauchi states.

Zouera Yussouffou (pictured), ADF managing director, said the programme is implemented in partnership with state governments who work with committees set up at the ward levels to ensure the appropriate beneficiaries are reached.  

“As far as possible, participants also receive training tailored to bolster their income-generating activities which are critical for the welfare of millions of Nigerians,” she said.

“Beneficiaries of this programme are evenly selected from the target communities with primary consideration for vulnerable women, food distressed household with infant or children under-five year old, disabled, divorcees, widows with multiple dependents, and extremely poor residents in these communities.”

According to the foundation, mobile phones and bank cards were added to the grants to start up or improve income generating activities in partnership with the respective state and local governments and mobile money/bank operators.