Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has revealed six new women centres and a solar-powered water project in Kudai, Dutse Local Government Area, Jigawa State.
The President of WOFAN, Hajia Salamatu Garba, announced this development in a statement on Friday, highlighting that the initiative is part of the ongoing endeavors to foster community empowerment and advancement.
Garba disclosed that a marketing hub catering to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) was also inaugurated to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Peace, with backing from the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy.
The recently launched solar-powered water system, comprising 12 water points, is designed to cater to the water requirements of over 500,000 households in Kudai and the adjacent communities. This initiative holds particular significance for residents who have long depended on a diminishing, deteriorating open well.
The intervention was prompted by the plea of Ahmadu, a resilient young man without limbs, who aspires to be self-reliant rather than resort to begging. WOFAN is steadfast in its commitment to empower 57,500 young PWDs and 9,000 agro-loaders and transporters nationwide.
The new women centres are furnished with rice parboiling and milling machinery, rice destoners, polishers, and hammer mills to enhance food processing activities in the area. Each center also received a startup capital of N1.8 million to bolster women-led enterprises.
Furthermore, 24 tricycle carriers, valued at three million Naira each, were distributed to local agro-loaders and transporters. Additionally, 40 hand-operated tricycles were provided to individuals with limited mobility to facilitate their independence in daily tasks. The marketing hub for PWDs, situated adjacent to the Women’s Centre, fosters business growth with round-the-clock solar power, charging stations, and amenities for small-scale enterprises such as barbershops and phone charging services.
WOFAN’s focus on Kudai was ignited by a viral video featuring Ahmadu Yakubu, a tetraplegic man struggling on the streets, highlighting the broader challenges confronting PWDs and the imperative of sustainable job creation.
Garba further commended WOFAN’s trainers, enterprise workers, and community leaders for their unwavering dedication. She underscored that the project not only addresses water scarcity and food security concerns but also promotes economic inclusivity, peace, and dignity, especially for marginalized groups.
The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, the Grand Patron of WOFAN in Jigawa, officially commissioned the solar-powered borehole, which will support vegetable cultivation and orchard development, further enriching local agriculture.
