Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, executive chairman of the Benue Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), has concluded plans to give N2 million interest-free loans to widows from Turan and Ikyurav-ya in Kwande local government area.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday. According to the statement, women from Turan and Ikyurav-ya in Kwande local government area who lost their breadwinners would benefit from a soft loan revolving scheme initiated and sponsored by the tax agency.

Ms Adzape-Orubibi said during the presentation of certificates of registration to the widows’ association at Mbako village in Turan, that she was empowering them to have income generating activities that would help improve their lives, kids and the economy.

She added that the project was aimed at lifting many widows in the local government areas of Benue out of poverty by providing financial inclusion and giving credit access to them.

The registered associations are Turan Widows Development Association and Ikyurav-ya Widows Development Association.

She said with the registration of the associations, the groups could now open and operate bank accounts through which money for the loans would also be channelled to the beneficiaries.

BIRS boss explained that each of the two widows’ associations would receive N1 million to be disbursed to their members, to boost their small businesses and help sustain them.

Ms Adzape-Orubibi further said the scheme was non-partisan, as beneficiaries cut across all party lines, adding that the scheme would soon cover the whole Kwande local government and beyond.

Responding on behalf of the groups, Nguseer Atule, one of the associations’ presidents, disclosed that following the previous empowerment schemes by the tax boss, members of the associations no longer stayed idle.

She assured Ms Adzape-Orubibi that members would not abuse the scheme but rather make judicious use of it and improve their business activities.

(NAN)