BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Some community business women drawn from seven Local Government Areas of Bauchi State have saved over N1b within the past seven years of the implementation of the Women Empowerment and Youths Entrepreneurship (WAY) project.
The project was an initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in the agri-food landscape which has been quietly transformed by the Project.
The Seven local government areas of the state that benefited from the project included, Bauchi, Toro, Warji, Ganjuwa, Jama’are, Dass and Katagum.
The seven-year journey, aimed at enhancing business performance and the overall environment for women and youths-led businesses, officially concluded its programmatic activities in December, 2023.
At the local close of the event in Bauchi, Mrs. Lydia John Shehu, Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), praised MEDA which she noted was “the best development partner” that impacted immensely on the socioeconomic development of the people of the state.
While unveiling the project’s impact, Emeraid Capital Management Consults, a key facilitating partner, highlighted MEDA’s support across the seven LGAs, resulting in the mobilization of over N1billion in savings by rural women and youth led businesses from 443 communities.
Testimonials from the close-out activity emphasized the project’s role in providing women access to more than 9,000 agro-processing technologies, addressing issues such as early and forced marriages.
Expressing gratitude during the close-out, the First Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed commended MEDA and GAC and also acknowledged the resilience and tenacity of the women of Bauchi State in navigating economic challenges.
