Poverty will be only reduced if women are trained, empowered – Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has said that Nigeria can only reduce poverty if the country train and empower the women.

She stated this when the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Dr Asabe Bashir paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Abuja.

In her response to Honourable Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir, she stated that “I will like to suggest here that you encourage the women to open a bank account which will help them begin to learn how to manage their finances. You can also liaise with some banks to accompany you during your events so that they can help the women open an account with ease,” the Honourable Minister said.

She noted that women need initial financial support, “and you know women are good managers of resources too.”

Concerning request by the DG, Mrs Ahmed said: “We will look at all your requests and see how we can help,” congratulating Dr Bashir for her well-deserved appointment, the Honourable Minister said, “I believe in your capacity to re-establish the Centre because of your track record in the area of women development and community service. I am confident you will excel here as you did too as a house member during your tenure.”

Reflecting on the past for the Centre, Mrs Ahmed also said: “We know how degraded the Centre is now. Before, it was a proud place to be a woman. I am happy that you have taken up the challenge. The creche is a laudable project/innovation. We will do our best to help you get support for the generator and to help the creche. I will also suggest that you look at the possibility of a light/power supply at the Centre,”