The Kanawa Educational Foundation for the Disabled has empowered 350 women with disabilities in Kano State with startup kits and financial support, marking a significant milestone in the SABI-WOMAN Project, implemented by Kanawa with support from UNICEF through Sightsavers.
The empowerment programme, which coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, was held at the Sani Abacha Youth Centre, Kano. It brought together women with disabilities from across the state, highlighting the wide reach and inclusiveness of the initiative.
In his welcome address, Ibrahim Garba Madu, Chief Executive Officer of the Kanawa Educational Foundation for the Disabled, said the project had transitioned from education to economic empowerment following six days of intensive business training provided by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
“We are proud to share a major milestone from the SABI–WOMAN Project. After successfully completing six days of intensive business education, we have now moved to the most exciting phase of the project — economic empowerment,” Madu said.
Each beneficiary received startup kits worth N120,000, logistics support of N10,000 to transport their products, and a cash grant of N104,526 to grow their small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Participants were also provided with daily breakfast and lunch throughout the programme.
Madu added that beyond the startup support, the women would continue to receive structured mentorship and business development assistance to help sustain and scale their businesses.
“This is more than empowerment — it is dignity, inclusion, and opportunity in action,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Nasir Yakubu Rishi, PhD, a member of the Kanawa Educational Board of Advisory, urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the skills acquired and called on other organisations and philanthropists to support similar initiatives.
“The SABI-WOMAN Project is not charity; it is an investment in ability, dignity, and economic inclusion. By empowering 350 women with disabilities with skills and startup support, we are proving that disability is not inability, and that inclusive development delivers real, sustainable results,” Rishi said.
Madu further reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to creating pathways for women with disabilities to thrive economically and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“This project demonstrates our determination to create opportunities that empower women with disabilities and promote inclusive economic growth in Kano State and beyond,” he said.