The Market Women Association, Plateau Branch, has appealed for special consideration given to women in the allocation of shops and sell point spaces in markets in Jos metropolis.
The leader of the Market women, Mrs Tabitha Ali, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Jos.
She said that many women experienced difficulties in getting allocations for the highly demanded shops in the metropolis, saying a special quota given to them would help in addressing the situation.
Ali appealed that spaces in front of big shops be leased to women, as some of them could not afford occupying the main shops.
“We have spaces in front of shops where it is usually leased out to people that cannot afford the big shops. We appeal that such spaces be given to women to sell their wares,” she said.
She said the gesture would guarantee an end to the constant harassment they got when selling on the roadside.
Ali said that the association had organised capacity building workshop for their members on how to improve on cultivation, poultry and fish farming
“We trained 30 women in Jos for a week two years ago, on improved farming methods,” she said.
She pointed out that many women experienced financial hardship and incur losses of their goods during the lock down period, urging government to have contingency plans to cushion such effects.
“The state government should use public primary schools in communities as selling points in periods of situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
The Leader said the association was working toward a partnership with Plateau Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, to empower women with soft loans to boost their businesses. (NAN)
