Government of Kogi State has flagged off a programme designed to empower women with small scale businesses in the state.

Speaking during the kick off of the event in Kabba-Bunu local government, the first lady of the state, Hajia Halimat Wada encouraged women to be self-reliant and not dependent.

In her opening speech at the programme where close to 175 rural women across the whole western senatorial district were empowered with financial supports, the wife of the deputy governor, who also doubled as the chief host, Mrs. Tokunbo Awoniyi, thanked the first lady for initiating the programme in empowering women across the state.

The first lady of Kogi state and founder of Kogi Women Empowerment Programme (KOWEN), Hajia Halimat Wada, in her remarks stated that since inception, KOWEN has empowered several women at the grass roots. She noted that women are better financial managers when empowered, as they will cater for the children and their husbands.

The first lady disclosed that the empowerment programme is aimed at assisting women with little token to either start or boost their small businesses, while the presentation of cash benefits were given to some selected women across the seven local government areas of the west senatorial district