Women will be priority in Adamawa micro-credit programme - SSG

Adamawa Government said it would give priority to women in the implementation of Grassroots Change Initiative, its empowerment programme.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Umar Bindir, made this known on Friday in Yola.


Bindir said that the micro-credit scheme meant to help petty traders was targeting 15, 000 beneficiaries across the state, with plans for women to constitute 60 per cent of the beneficiaries.

"Fifteen thousand people are to benefit from the programme; that is 66 beneficiaries from each of the 226 wards in the state.

"Of this total, 60 per cent will be women and 40 per cent men," he said.

He said that the interest-free loan of N30, 000 per beneficiary would be repaid in one year, with three months moratorium.

"To encourage people to pay, the governor has approved more money for anyone who repaid in good time.

``Such person is not only supporting the chances of his community but can access more loan of between N60,000 and N100,000," Bindir said.

He explained that the beneficiaries needed to open bank account for the loan, adding that they must also complete a form, which would be endorsed by their wards and district heads.

The SSG said that the form would be collected at no cost and that it had some security features to check duplication and other abuses.