Sokoto state government said it has released the sum of N155 million for the completion of the construction of women entrepreneurship development centres in the 23 local government areas of the state.

It said when completed, the centres will serve as research and training facilities with a view to empowering women, enlightening the public on gender-related issues and rehabilitation of patients.

A statement issued in Sokoto by Imam Imam, the spokesman to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, said the N780m model centres are expected to be put to use by the second quarter of 2017.

Specifically, the centers are designed to train women in sewing, knitting, catering services, as well as adult provision of education lessons.

Imam stated that “In recognition of the importance of women development centers in poverty eradication and economic development of women in Sokoto, Governor Tambuwal approved the payment of outstanding liabilities to contractors to enable them move back to site for successful completion of the centres.”

So far, all the centers in Sokoto East and Sokoto South Senatorial zones have been completed and handed over to the government.

However, construction work is still on going in the eight centers in Sokoto Central Senatorial zone.

Meanwhile, 100 women have benefited from grant of N50,000 each given by the Sokoto State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency, SOSMEDA, under its conditional cash grant to extremely poor citizens across the state.

The funds were distributed in Sokoto by the state commissioner for women affairs,  Kulu Sifawa and Director-General of SOSMEDA, Turai-Jummai Alhassan.