Tony Udemba
A PDP member of House of Representatives, Rita Orji, representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos, has unveiled a micro-finance scheme for women. The scheme was specially packaged by her foundation to mark the International Women’s Day, as part of the event organized together by the Catholic Women Organization, CWO, Apapa Deanery, at Saint Charles Catholic Church, Ajegunle.
Orji explained that the choice of the International Women’s Day for the kick-off of the financial support scheme for women was a clear demonstration of her strong passion and desire to boost the financial capacity of women in the area.
The lawmaker stated that the first phase of the scheme would target about 200 women in the area, just as she assured that other phases of the scheme would benefit more women. She maintained that the purpose of the financial support scheme was to offer the women easy access to soft loans which would enable them to engage in small scale businesses in order to support their various families. Orji who also chairs, house committee on Diaspora Matters, stated that beyond empowering women, the financial support scheme would curb joblessness and idleness amongst women, and make them to be productive with their times.
She further urged the beneficiaries to ensure that whatever financial support they received from the scheme would not be diverted to unproductive ventures, noting that it was the reason why the scheme was modeled like micro-finance loans. She regretted that despite various interventionist programmes by the government aimed at addressing issues of poverty and non-availability of finance to set up business, Nigerian women still found it difficult to obtain loans and financial support from key government agencies and the private sector.
She noted that given the enormity of challenges facing many families nowadays it becomes imperative for women to rise up and support their husbands in the task of improving the financial capacities of their families, insisting that it was equally the responsibility of the women to ensure that their marriages remains solid. Speaking further, Orji counseled the women to be respectful to their husbands, as well as live a decent and responsible lifestyle worthy of emulation in the society.