Group starts soft loan programme for widows in Bauchi

Mrs Fatima Idris, the National President of Legionaires Wives Association of Nigeria,
an NGO, says the group has started a soft loan programme to support widows and their children in Bauchi State.

Idris told newsmen in Bauchi on Tuesday that the loan was part of interventions lined up
by the NGO to impact the lives of widows.

She explained that the loan was introduced in 2022 to support widows to become self-reliant.

She added that the initiative was to reduce poverty, among members, through small-scale businesses.

The national president also said that beneficiaries of the loan were provided with equipment as start-up to
support their families, especially in funding their health needs and children’s education.

She said “recently, we provided equipment and loan to women in Dass and Toro Local Government of Bauchi State
so that they can generate some income, after one year, another batch would benefit and the paid loan would be revolving;
so it goes on and on and on.

“We gave not fewer than 10 groups of our member, items such as grinding machines, spaghetti making machine,
among others, at lower cost.”

Idris said the association conducted a statewide senstisation on environmental and menstrual hygiene.

She urged government at all levels, philanthropists, development partners and stakeholders to support wives of
fallen heroes.