Foundation Partners With SMEDAN On Poverty Reduction

from All Africa

Leadership (Abuja)

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is to work in partnership with an Abuja-based foundation to reduce poverty.

Mrs Adejoke Roberts, Coordinator, Daughter of Zion Foundation, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

She said that the two organisations would run "motivational programmes on poverty reduction".

"Our focus will be service to humanity through wealth creation to check the scourge of unemployment.

"The vision is in line with the present administration's seven point agenda which is aimed at making life better for the people," Roberts added.

She said that "government cannot do it alone, so the foundation vision tallies with the global move, which is also in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)".

"If poverty is tackled all other goals will fall in line which include HIV and AIDS, education, gender equality and reduction of child mortality," Roberts added.

Roberts said that the foundation in partnership with SMEDAN advised and taught women on how to discover their talents to be self sustaining.

"We lend money ranging from N10,000 to N100,000 to the women without interest to start their businesses.

"We send women to the National Centre for Women Development to acquire skills on catering and fashion designing for a period of one year.

"And we buy machines and ovens for them to start their businesses," she said.