Reps member gives N37m business grants to 500 widow constituents in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

House of Representatives Member representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock, has given the sum of N37m to 500 widows in his constituency, as a business grant.
The women who were selected from the 22 wards that make up the Federal Constituency, were given N30,000 each, while those with outstanding business proposals were given between N300,000 to N500,000.
Hon. Zock who carried out the constituency empowerment programme in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the women to start or uplift their businesses so that they can be financially independent.
Eleven out of the N35 million was given to about 200 Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the constituency, as financial support for their peace promotion efforts.
Addressing the women’s beneficiaries in Kachia, the lawmakers urged them to utilize the fund judiciously, so that they can become financially independent and assist their respective households.
Hon. Zock while informing that, he has appointed agents to monitor the beneficiaries and their businesses, said those who run successful businesses would be further empowered with a million Naira grant after one year.
According to him, “We are here to empower the religious leaders in this month of Ramadan for the Muslims and also the season of lent for the Christians. So I deemed it fit to show my support to the religious leaders and urged them to sacrifice their time and pray for the country so we can have peace.
“For the widows, we are donating N24 million to empower about 500 women in the first phase so that they can start a small trade. Apart from the twenty-four million Naira, there are other genuine business proposals some got N500,000 some got N300,000, and others M100,000.”