Limited Access to Livelihood Support Threatens Women’s Existence in North West Nigeria
As part of the effort to realize the objectives of the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation (GIAF), the staff of GIAF embarked on visits to Dambatta and Funtua LGAs in Kano and Katsina states, respectively. During the visits conducted 8th – 14th December 2021, leaders of both communities appreciated the efforts of the Late Lieutenant-General Attahiru, for initiating the ongoing two blocks of five classrooms, and two mosque projects in Angwan Bai Dukawa, and Angwar Mai Tandama communities in Dambatta and Funtua LGAs respectively.
During an interactive session with women in Angwar Bai Community, they mentioned that some of their greatest challenges were poor access to maternity centres and services as pregnant women are transported on motorcycles for over 60 kilometers to access the nearest hospital in Dambatta or Kazaure LGA headquarters and in the process some either put to bed on the way or die on the way; lack of access to financial services including credit and loans for businesses; poor access to livelihood opportunities; illiteracy and skills lack thereof; as well as flooding during rainy seasons.
In Funtua, the women mentioned some of their greatest challenges as lack of access to agriculture inputs for women farmers; poor access to credit and loan facilities; lack of employment opportunities for educated and skilled women; many widows with orphans not having livelihood sources; some women had skills but no capital nor access to loan to put the skills to use; there were IDP women from Faskari community that left their villages due to bandits induced attacks, and had not received any humanitarian support. The huge turn-out of IDPs, widows, and orphans during the visit of the GIAF Team, coupled with the concerns raised about the plight of both women and community leaders only raises the need for speedy relief, livelihood, mental health, and psycho-social support to these population of concern, to enable them to build and live their lives in dignity.
