Borno Gov. says Gwoza IDP now produce large scale toiletries

Some Intern”Žally Displaced Persons from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have begun large scale production and packaging of various household products.The products include solid and liquid soap, detergents, pomade, hand bags.A statement from the Borno State Government said “the production was made possible through some loans allocated to them by the Borno Renaissance Micro Finance Bank, set up by Governor Kashim Shettima to promote entrepreneurship.’’The statement said after examining their proposal in 2016, Governor Shettima directed the Micro Finance Bank to release the sum of 5 million Naira to a group of 91 male and female citizens displaced from Gwoza, but living within some camps in Maiduguri.According to the statement, after the preliminary meeting with Governor Shettima, the group registered with the State as Gwoza Soap Makers Association, a cooperative desired to go into mass production of household items.The Governor had facilitated the release of the funds and promised to make them grow in capacity, if they start on a good footing.The representatives of the IDP’S led Borno State Commissioner for Higher Education, Usman Jaha, ”Žwere at the Government House with samples of the products.They named all their products, ”˜G.Z. Hijira’. The ”˜G.Z’ represent Gwoza, their town, and Hijira, meaning ”˜temporary relocation’ which in their case represent Internal displacement.“We want our locally produced products to capture the memory of our displacement and relocation to Maiduguri as a result of the attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014, in Gwoza,’’ the IDPs told Governor Shettima.One of the leaders of the IDPs, Musa Ali Gwoza briefed the Governor on the progress they had made with the funds given to them.“For a start, we have used part of the funds and produced 118 cartons of solid laundry soap; 86 cartons of small size pomades, 96 cartons of large size of pomade; 200 jericans of large and small packs of liquid soap; 1,972 kitchen sized packs of liquid soap, disinfectants and 127 numbers of women and unisex hand bags. We will be going into bigger scale production, but we came to show you what we have started doing since you created this opportunity for us by encouraging us and getting us the money,” Gwoza explained.Governor ”ŽShettima said after certification by the regulatory agencies, their products would become major features in public hospitals, schools and other Government establishments, to increase their capacity and the economy.“You have just made my day. This is the kind of progress I love to see. You are all internally displaced persons but rather than fold your arms and wait for aide, you chose to be productive using your talents. I encouraged you because you deserved it. By the grace of God, after agencies like NAFDAC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) certify your products, we will arrange for a public presentation of your products, I will lead the launching and the Borno State Government will make you primary suppliers of these products in our hospitals, schools and other Government establishment including this Government House so that you create jobs for others that will market and sell your products,’’  he promised.The Governor directed the State Commissioners for Education and Health to commence preliminary discussions with the IDPs on the assessments of their products and Government’s support.