Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Betta Edu, has provided financial assistance of N50,000 each to 500 women in Cross River State as part of an empowerment programme aimed at supporting small businesses and improving livelihoods.
Edu also announced a target of securing 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
She disclosed this on Sunday in Calabar during an empowerment programme organised at the instance of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The beneficiaries, comprising market women, petty traders and artisans, also received various business and household equipment, including deep freezers, blenders and toasters.
Speaking at the event, Edu, who is the Co-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Mobilisation Directorate, explained that the N50,000 cash support was designed to help small-scale business owners increase their capital, expand their businesses and improve their financial conditions.
According to her, some of the beneficiaries were operating businesses with very little capital, with some traders having goods worth only N5,000 or N10,000.
She said the financial assistance would enable them to purchase more goods, grow their businesses and provide better support for their families.
Edu, however, used the occasion to call on residents of Cross River State to support Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She expressed confidence that the ruling party would secure more than 1.5 million votes in the state, adding that the APC Women Mobilisation Directorate was working to establish structures across the country to strengthen support for the party.
The programme combined financial assistance with political mobilisation, although there was no indication that beneficiaries were required to support the APC or its candidates to qualify for the assistance.
Edu further disclosed that the empowerment initiative would be extended to other parts of Cross River State.
She said Abi Local Government Area was expected to benefit from the programme in November or December, while the northern senatorial district would be covered in January.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in January 2024 following controversy surrounding a request to transfer N585 million in ministry funds into a private bank account.
Following the development, the President directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the transaction and other financial activities involving the ministry.
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