The Adashe Women Empowerment Society, in collaboration with Family Homes Funds, has constructed about 100 units of houses to accommodate widows, orphans and refugees for free in Kaduna State

The society’s Founder, Umma Sani, made the disclosure during the closing ceremony of a skills acquisition training organised by the organisation for women.

She explained that the houses located at Rigachikun were 90 per cent completed and would be given to deserving widows to give them hope and stability.

Ms Sani said, “We initially targeted 100 women for the skills acquisition training but right now, we have over 500 women that had benefited from the training. They were trained in different skills ranging from cosmetology, catering, art and crafts, shoes and bag making, among others; they will also be given starter kits.”

She urged women to support and love each other and remain humble and respectful to their husbands.

In her address, the Director-General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Asabe Vilita, commended the society’s effort to reduce poverty through empowerment.

She said that the government alone couldn’t do it without the support of well-to-do individuals, adding that skills acquisition training was the best gift to give women.

Ms Vilita said, “Women are the drivers of the economy. Therefore, you should take the skills you learnt seriously so as to be self-reliant and support your families. I call on well-to-do Nigerians to emulate Umma Sani by empowering women and the less-privileged; the centre is ready to partner with such individuals,”

Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the training, saying that they would utilise what they have learnt.

A widow, Zainab Muhammad, who learnt catering, said she would start up a ‘small chop’ business and support her children with the proceeds.

Another beneficiary, Blessing Charles, who learnt cosmetology, said she could now produce petroleum jelly, air freshener and disinfectant, adding that she would transfer the knowledge she acquired.

(NAN)