MAGI GRADUATES 1,000 WOMEN IN MINNA, SETS TO GRADUATE 500 IN SHIRORO UNDER ZINARIYA MINNA EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

By YM Bina

The Millennium Africa Global Initiative  (MAGI) has graduated 1,000 women in Catering and Cosmetology at a grand ceremony held at the Emir’s Palace, Minna, under the Zinariya Minna Women Empowerment Program.

The 2-month intensive training and graduation was conceived and executed in honor of Hajiya Dr. Sa’adatu Sani Musa 313, the Zinariyar Minna under the Minna Emirate Council and Founder of Future Pathway Foundation, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to women empowerment and human capital development in Niger East held in Minna.

Declaring the program open, the National Coordinator of MAGI, Amb. Marshall John Okoro thanked the Board of MAGI and the people of Zinariya Minna for their support, saying that the training was driven in her honor who is the inspiration behind the movement.

According to Okoro, “We started with 500 women. Today we are graduating 1,000. And by next week, another 500 women in Shiroro Local Government will also graduate. That will bring the total to 1,500 women trained under the Zinariya Minna Women Empowerment Program in less than 3 months,”

“These women have put in their best for 2 months. They are ready to work. We humbly appeal to you Ma to take the next step by supporting them with startup kits so that these skills can immediately translate into businesses and prosperity for their families. When you do this, your name will be written in gold as the woman who made women economically free.” he stated.

Representing the MAGI Board Chairman, Comr. Ideas Abdulkareem Lafene, Dr. M.K. Adamu appreciated Hajiya 313 for her visionary leadership style in impacting on the lives of others especially the women in the society.

“Because you said yes, 1,500 women will be trained and empowered. These are not just graduates. They are now agents of change who will employ others and grow our economy.

He added that, “But training without tools is like planting without water. We are begging you, our mother, our Zinariyar Minna. Through your good offices and the Future Pathway Foundation, support these women with startup kits. The Board of MAGI pledges to monitor and report the success of every woman you support.”

In her remarks, Hajiya Dr. Sa’adatu Sani Musa 313 represented by Hajiya Hafsat Waiwaye Adon Tafiya who congratulated the graduates also assured them of continued support.

“On behalf of Zinariyar Minna, I congratulate the 1,000 graduates. You have chosen skills, dignity, and self-reliance. We are proud of you.  Zinariyar Minna pledges her full support to MAGI. We are already tracking the next 500 in Shiroro to make it 1,500 women in total.

“To all graduates: Prepare yourselves and do not disappoint us. I assure you that Hajiya 313 will do everything possible to support your businesses.”

“As I speak, she is already in discussion with the National Coordinator of MAGI on the immediate provision of startup kits for all graduates so you can start earning without delay” she declared.

The Guests at the event, which includes: traditional rulers, community leaders and beneficiaries, unanimously commended Zinariyar Minna for her commitment to human capital development and poverty reduction in Niger East, urging for the sustainability of the program which will surely reduce poverty and improve economic reliability on the part of the beneficiaries.

The graduation marks a major milestone for women empowerment in the state and positions MAGI as the trusted implementation structure through which Zinariyar Minna is expanding skills and opportunities across the  entire Zone B.