From Joseph Asegba, Yola
All have been completed as Adamawa state Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA) is disbursing second round empowerment to 35,000 persona with N50,000 each in the state.
The Director General of PAWECA, Michael Zira Wadaragwo, made thia known to journalists in Yola that, the support been approved by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, amid alleviating economic hardship among youths, widows, and vulnerable members in the society.
The DG further said, the beneficiaries will receive the funds directly into their bank accounts to enhance their business capital, thereby promoting economic development and self reliance.
Also, 5,000 students are currently undergoing skills acquisition training across 10 government technical training centers in the state.
These students have been trained in various entrepreneurial fields, including tailoring, carpentry, metalwork, trading, electrical, and mechanicals.
Wadaragwo noted that the Agency’s plan is to train 600 to 1,000 young men and women from each local government area through a collaborative framework. Within which after the training, they will be provided with starter packs to launch their chosen business ventures.
His words, “We are planning to engage 600 to 1,000 youths from each local government council through a collaborative framework for skills acquisition training. Afterward, they will be provided with starter packs to help them start their selected businesses.”
The agency is committed to its vision and mission of reducing poverty and creating wealth among citizens. He also introduced a new scheme, “From Retirement to Wealth,” which aims at to empower retirees, he said.
According to him, “under my watch, i want this scheme, civil servants will be enrolled in skills acquisition programs five years before their retirement to enable them gain entrepreneurial skills and become self reliant.
He further stated that, under Fintiri Business Wallet program, PAWECA had disbursed N50,000 to 10,000 beneficiaries, with a focus on women to address gender disparities.
The programme disbursement last month, recorded a 98.6% success rate, with the remaining 2.4% experiencing delays due to network issues at some banks.
The PAWECA Boss is urging rural residents to ensure that their bank accounts, BVN, and NIN numbers are functional, as the government aims to reach every corner of the state with its empowerment programs.