In a fresh effort to promote economic inclusion and tackle poverty, the administration of Kano State Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf has launched a women empowerment initiative that will provide ₦50,000 monthly assistance to 5,200 beneficiaries across 44 local government areas of the state.
The programme, which was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Government House, Kano, underlines the administration's commitment to poverty reduction through the promotion of small and micro enterprises and the advancement of women's economic independence.
Governor Yusuf, who presided over the launch, said the initiative was designed to help women grow their businesses, stabilize household incomes and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of the state.
The Governor said, “This support is meant to empower women to expand small businesses and strengthen family well-being. Women are key drivers of social and economic progress, and our government is committed to policies that enhance their productivity and self-reliance.”
According to Yusuf, the beneficiaries were carefully selected to ensure fairness, equal representation and maximum community impact.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State Chapter, Saadatu Yushau, lauded the initiative, describing it as a historic step in grassroots empowerment. She commended the Governor for prioritizing women welfare and urged the beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly to transform their livelihoods and support the development goals of the state.
The event featured a symbolic presentation of the empowerment fund to selected women from various local governments, marking the beginning of the monthly disbursement.
Kano State continues to grapple with significant socio-economic challenges. In January 2025, Governor Yusuf said that 62 percent of the state's population lived below the poverty line. The 2022 Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index similarly reported that about 10.5 million residents in Kano were multidimensionally poor, one of the highest figures in the country.
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A 2020 report estimated that 48.2 percent of Kano's population was in severe poverty, with 50.1 percent experiencing poverty. Recent UNICEF assessments revealed that 69.2 per cent of children in the state suffer from multidimensional poverty, facing lack of access to education, nutrition and health care.
Data from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in 2020 showed the average annual household income in Kano was $1,384, with female-headed households earning $133 less than their male counterparts, highlighting the gender gap that the new empowerment initiative seeks to bridge.
