Nasarawa State has empowered 100 underprivileged women with vocational training and start-up equipment to help them build small businesses and improve their livelihoods.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The empowerment program, held in Lafia, was organized by the member representing Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency. The initiative focused on practical skills such as soap-making, baking, tailoring, and other small-scale enterprises.

Speaking at the event, the lawmaker said the program was designed to reduce poverty and unemployment among women in rural communities. “We selected beneficiaries who genuinely need support to start something meaningful,” he said. “This training and the materials provided will enable them to earn income and support their families.”

Each of the 100 beneficiaries received both training and basic start-up kits, including tools and raw materials to help them launch small businesses immediately after the program. Community leaders assisted in selecting the women to ensure fairness and transparency, according to the organizers.

The lawmaker said the empowerment program was part of his broader constituency development plan aimed at promoting self-reliance among women and youths. He added that follow-up monitoring would be conducted to ensure the beneficiaries make good use of the support they received.

Many of the beneficiaries expressed joy and gratitude, describing the initiative as life-changing. One participant, who received a baking kit, said she planned to start selling bread and snacks within her neighborhood. “This opportunity gives me hope that I can now provide for my children,” she said.

Another participant said she would use her new skills in soap-making to start a small business from home. “Before now, I depended on others for everything. With what I’ve learned and the tools I received, I can now work and make my own money,” she said.

Traditional and community leaders who attended the event praised the lawmaker’s effort, describing it as a practical way to tackle poverty at the grassroots level. They urged other public officials to invest in similar projects that empower citizens rather than relying solely on handouts.

Experts say women’s empowerment programs like this have lasting economic and social impacts. When women gain access to skills and business tools, they tend to reinvest their earnings in their families and communities, leading to improved education and health outcomes.

The lawmaker said he plans to expand the empowerment initiative to reach more women and youths in the coming months. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We want every woman in our constituency to have a means of livelihood and the confidence to support herself.”

Nasarawa State, located in north-central Nigeria, has faced persistent challenges of poverty and unemployment, especially among women and young people. Initiatives like this one are increasingly seen as vital tools to promote local development and reduce economic dependency.

The program’s organizers said they hope the beneficiaries will form cooperatives to share experiences, pool resources, and access larger business opportunities. If successful, the model could be replicated across other constituencies in the state.

With the distribution of training tools and the completion of the empowerment workshop, many of the women in Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba constituency now have a new start toward financial independence — a move local leaders say could transform entire communities if sustained.