From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Inter-city transportation system in Kano state has received a boost with the introduction of electric tricycle designed to transport women to various locations within Kano metropolis.
The initiative which is also promoting the Shariah compliance status of Kano as an Islamic state, is already empowering no fewer than 115 women in the ancient commercial city, with 85 trained as electric tricycle riders, while 30 female have already undergone training as special mechanics for the innovative electric tricycle transportation project.
The beneficiaries of the project who are all women were selected through women Cooperative Societies in the state.
The chairlady, Mata Zalla (Women Organization) in Kano, Hajiya Hauwa Ahmad Tarauni, who spoke during the groundbreaking event of the electric tricycle held along Club Road, Kano, described the project as a huge economic blessing for women in the state. According to her, the female tricycle riders are expected to operate between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m daily.
Also in her remarks, the chairlady of Yarbawai, Hajiya Habiba Abubakar Imam, said with the level of acceptability of the project by both religious and opinion leaders in the state, the number of female tricycle riders in Kano will roll into thousands in the nearest future, hoping that Kano women who the tricycles are specially designed for, will be very much happy to patronise their fellow women—-the riders.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Team Leader, LINKS—FCDO, Umar Mohammed, said LINKS, a UK-based organization, is mostly concerned with women and girls empowerment, supporting investment in three northern states—-Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.
According to him, Kano is the pilot state for the project, adding that it is expected that it will spread across other states of Nigeria in no distant time.
He added that, “the project was initiated for several reasons. One of our key mandate is to support women empowerment. Also, this electric tricycle has been introduced to reduce gas emission. It will surely contribute immencely to the reduction of gas emission in Kano state because it does not make use of fuel.
“For us here, we partnered with two women Cooperative Societies. We also patnered with Sterling bank Alternative Finance, which would provide the financing of the project. We also have Qore EV Charging Station who would be providing charging services for the electric-powered tricycle.
“We also got the support of the Kano State Council of Ulamas, KAROTA, VIO, FRSC, Hisbah, the Ministries of Women Affairs, Transport and Environment.”
Mohammed further stated that already, “30 women have been trained as mechanics in the pilot project, while 85 women are owners and riders of the electric tricycle. We hope that the number will increase in future. When other women see it, they would be tempted to subscribe.
” The initiative is an ecosystem for women. The women own the tricycle, the women ride the tricycle, the women patronise as passengers, and the women are special mechanics for the tricycle.”
Mohammed explained that women who are interested in the initiative register through the Cooperative Societies. They contribute 10 per cent of the total cost of the tricycle, and are expected to pay back the remaining 90 per cent within a space of two to three years, “the initiative is comprehensively covered by insurance. The project is sustainable because it is purely private sector driven,” he added.
He further stated that the beneficiaries have already opened accounts with Sterling Bank, “for now, Sterling Bank has imported over 85 electric tricycles for the commencement of the pilot-project here in Kano. The electric tricycle does not need fuel to operate.
“It requires only rechargeable batteries, which are recharged every 48 hours. As soon as the battery runs down, it would indicate, just like smart phones. When the battery goes down, the rider would drive it to the Qore EV Charging Station, and insert an already recharged battery and keep moving.”
The Group Head, Non-Interest Banking and Strategy, Sterling Bank, Garba Mohammed, told journalists that the bank is committed towards ensuring that the project does not only become a huge success in Kano, but spreads to other states across the federation in no distant time.
He added that already, Sterling Bank has committed not less than N200 million in the electric tricycle women empowerment project.
In his remarks, the chairman, Kano state Council of Ulamas, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, who cut the groundbreaking tape, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity the project provided for them. Sheikh Khalil further warned the women tricycle riders against breaking traffic laws and carrying overload.
