Jigawa Governor’s Wife Empowers Women, Tackles Education Crisis

The wife of Jigawa State Governor, Hajiya Amina Umar Namadi, has committed to collaborating with stakeholders to address the issue of out-of-school children by empowering women through expanded trade and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Speaking at the inaugural Women’s Trade Fair organized by the Jigawa Women Entrepreneurs Network (JIWEN) at Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse, Mrs. Namadi emphasized the connection between poverty, maternal illiteracy, and the rising number of out-of-school children. She highlighted the importance of addressing these challenges to curb social issues such as juvenile delinquency and improve family welfare.

Mrs. Namadi commended JIWEN for organizing the trade fair, describing it as a significant step toward fostering economic growth and independence for women. She assured the group of the government’s continued support for women-led initiatives, which align with Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s 12-point agenda. This agenda prioritizes support for small-scale businesses, job creation, and empowering women and youth for self-reliance.

She stressed that even modest assistance could enable women to provide for their families, reducing the prevalence of out-of-school children. Mrs. Namadi reaffirmed her readiness to collaborate with initiatives promoting women’s empowerment and addressing educational challenges in the state.

Earlier, JIWEN Coordinator, Nuriya Haruna Bako, explained that the trade fair was part of activities marking Global Entrepreneurship Week. She noted that the event, organized in partnership with Jigawa Invest and other organizations such as the Nigerian Women Chamber of Commerce and the Nigerian Women in Agricultural Business Cooperative Society, aimed to promote women entrepreneurs in Jigawa State.

According to Bako, over 70 registered women business groups participated in the trade fair, which sought to create a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs at local, national, and global levels. She expressed gratitude to Jigawa Invest, the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Dutse Local Government, and Her Excellency for their support in making the event a success.