By Iyakale Yakubu
The Commander, Special Task Force, STF, on secutity in Jos, Plateau State in North Central of Nigeria, Major General Rogers Nicholas, has donated N600,000 to empower women at internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in various skills and businesses.
The Commander made the donation at his investiture as a honorary member of the District 9125 Rotary Club in Jos to give start -up grants to women trained by the Home Makers Women Development Initiative, a Plateau-based Non-Governmental Organisation.
The Commander while making the donation to the women from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States said that he witnessed loss of lives of breadwinners when he served in Borno State where scores of death were high because of the insurgency.
He said the donation would help reduce the hardship faced by these women and help them cater for the needs of their family, saying his honorary membership in Rotary Club would further create a wider platform for him to contribute to humanity which was the premise in which the club was established.
“This award means the public is watching what we are doing. I am honored to be part of a group of seasoned professionals serving humanity of which I am committed to contribute my quota.
“I enjoined groups to emulate Rotary Club in augmenting the efforts of government in meeting the needs of the people especially the vulnerable groups. I also want my officers to discharge their duties diligently so that they would also be recognized for their diligent service,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Philomina Dadu’ut, the President of Rotary in Jos, said, the STF commander was recognized by the Club because of his outstanding efforts towards restoring peace in the Plateau.
He explained that the Club gave start up grants to six women in December last year to enable them learn various skills and establish businesses to meet the needs of their families.
“Rotary as a humanitarian club gave start up grants to six of these women who were empowered by the Home makers Women Development Initiative of different skills of pastries, pomade making, spices and handmade bags amongst others. I want to appreciate the Commander for his kind gesture, it would definitely meet the needs of thousands of women and make them self reliant,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Margaret Ahmed, the Coordinator of the Home-makers Women Development Initiative said, the organisation had trained more than 1,000 women in IDP camps on different skills who will no longer have to queue up for relief materials again.
Mrs. Hannatu Yakubu, one of the recipients of the rotary grant said, she has established her spices business and have been able to pay her children Senior and Junior Secondary Certificate Exams.
Rotary has seven clubs in the Plateau and are governed by the District 9125 Governor who coordinates twenty three states including the Federal Capital territory.