The Yobe State Government on July 17, 2026, approved N460.83 million to support female small business owners, including akara sellers, as part of efforts to strengthen livelihoods and improve economic opportunities across the state.

The approval was reached during the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House in Damaturu.

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Briefing journalists after the meeting, Yobe State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, said the intervention was designed to provide essential resources to women involved in small-scale businesses.

“The State Executive Council has approved the sum of N460,828,450.00 for the procurement of beans for distribution to female small business owners as empowerment support,” Bego said.

He explained that the beneficiaries would receive beans alongside cooking oil, smokeless stoves, cooking utensils and kitchenware, with some of the items already procured and stored by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation.

According to the commissioner, 1,780 bags of beans weighing 50 kilogrammes each will be distributed as part of the empowerment programme.

Yobe approves N460.8m empowerment support as the Buni administration says the initiative is aimed at improving the financial stability of women who depend on small businesses for their income.

Beyond the support for female entrepreneurs, the council also approved N364.48 million for the procurement of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines to be distributed to residents under another empowerment programme.

“Under the Ministry of Wealth Creation, the council has approved the sum of N364,475,000.00 for the procurement of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines for empowerment support to people across the state,” Bego said.

The commissioner added that the State Executive Council approved projects and services worth N73.32 billion across key sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, housing and market development.

The approvals include N28.53 billion for agricultural tools and equipment under the state’s 2026 mega agricultural empowerment programme, N23.97 billion for two major road projects and additional funding for other development initiatives.

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The latest interventions form part of Yobe State Government’s broader strategy to support entrepreneurship, increase economic participation and improve access to resources for residents across different communities.