More than 500 unbanked women in Abuja’s Dutse/Bwari Area Council have been given financial independence thanks to the Strategic Outreach Support, a tax-exempt organization and leading financial institution.

In accordance with a statement provided to our correspondent on Friday, the “Market Women Support Fund Initiative” outreach initiative enables cash to be provided to market and local women traders to enhance the convenience of conducting business.

“Over 500 women including food vendors, retail provision sellers, and farm produce traders became beneficiaries of the Market Women Support Fund – MWSF powered by the Strategic Outreach Support in partnership with Zenith Bank.

“The capital funding exercise which is ongoing and would cover every local government area of the federation, saw a very large turnout of women and women trade associations in Dutse/Bwari, started with an account registration exercise facilitated by zenith bank. Over 500 unbanked women had new accounts opened and credited with the sum of N10,000 naira – funding made available by Strategic Outreach Support,” part of the statement read.

The initiative would be distributed among Abuja’s five area councils before moving on to other regions of the nation, according to the announcement.

On May 19, 2023, a seminar titled “Influencing Global Policy Implementation for Sustainable Development” will be held to promote the creation of funding for market women to boost trade of small and medium-sized enterprises and to also cushion the adverse effect of the global economic challenges.