…as women affairs minister say ‘Iwill come after you if you don’t use it’
By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government on Thursday launched the ‘PLUG-IN At Women’ and distribution of 37,000 Point Of Sale Terminal (POS) machines to women across the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory Abuja, in collaboration with PLUG Platform Group, an organisation that promotes financial inclusion in the country.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, in her address, at the launch in Abuja warned the women not to sell, transfer ownership or keep idle the free POS machines that would be distributed nationwide.
According to the Minister, the POS will ensure ease of doing business and boost the economic status of women in Nigeria.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the first phase of the free 3,000 Units of POS will be distributed among some women in the FCT.
The Minister stated: “Some of you might be thinking that it is something that they will sell, I will come after you if you sell it.
“If you know that you are not going to operate this POS by yourself, don’t take it.
“Before you are handed over this POS, you must have been registered in the system and we will be tracking you. Our eyes are on you.
“So, if you don’t need it, don’t collect it because the problem we have in Nigeria is that things meant for certain people, greedy ones will grab it. The ministry of Women Affairs will come after you”, she warned.
Kennedy-Ohanenye stated that two months after the distribution of the POS machines, the beneficiaries would be monitored to see the progress made and the number of transactions carried out to ensure the objectives are met.
She also advised the women to register in the ministry’s e-portal to enable them have to access financial support and business opportunities. She added that plans were underway for 400,000 women nationwide to benefit ₦25,000 monthly each for three months.
“If you know that you can’t meet up after two months, return it to the ministry and the partner, PLUG.
“Anyone that wants to help Nigerian women should go through the portal, and send them money directly to avoid diversion, selfishness and others.
“So, I am encouraging every woman to get involved, sell and advertise what you have through the portal.
“We don’t need to over labour the women, we ahve a portal. In that portal you can register directly without coming here and we can track then through the portal. We can communicate with them through the portal. So all we need to do is collect the link, so that you don’t only register yourself, you register your neighbour, you register your friend.
“As we speak we started this in less thank 4 week and we have over 400,000 women already registered.
“About transaction, uf they give you like two months to be able to help yourself. After two months that you have been given enough opportunity to create how you are going to make money and you are not doing up to 20 transactions a day, I will ask them to retrieve it from you”, she stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of PLUG Platform Group, Okeimute Akoko, explained that the initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is to see to the Empowerment of Nigerian women.
She said: “The initiative is to plug women into financial and social empowerment, which the ministry and every Nigerian woman share on financial prosperity and empowerment.
“It is about the lives that will be transformed by the opportunities we are providing and giving the Nigerian women the chance to live a healthier and prosperous life”.
“We believe that working with the ministry we could reach to the unreached in the rural areas.
“Women will also benefit from the health insurance coverage at ₦200 charged monthly”.
Okeimurte said those who might wish to benefit from the POS machines were expected to come with two passport photographs, a utility bill, a National Identification Number (NIN), and a Bank Verification Number (BVN).
The Permanent of the Ministry, Gabriel Aduda, in his welcome address said the initiative was to empower women economically, eradicate poverty and achieve the 2030 target of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).
Represented by Funke Ladipo, he stated: “Of course we are starting with the FCt because we are all based in the FCT, and this distribution will be taken to all the 36 states of the federation”.
One of the beneficiaries Mrs Elizabeth Agbo, who was presented the POS said it will be used to ease her business financial transactions.
Agbo assured that she would key into the ₦200 monthly healthcare insurance programme to access healthcare services.