CHAIRMAN of Kwali Area Council, Mr. Joseph Shazin, yesterday pledged to give soft loans to women in the council in order to empower them.The council chairman stated this when members of Kwali chapter of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He said the loan will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries to do any business of their choice.According to him, the council is seeing the possibility of encouraging all the women from various households across the ten wards of the council in order to form a cooperative group, so that a loan can be acquired through a bank.

"We want women to go into skills acquisition in various business ventures like soap making, wedding cakes, knitting, sewing, among others and if they succeed, the council will dole out certain amount on money to enable them start their own businesses," he said.

He added that job opportunities will be created for youths through small scale industries, especially in the area of agriculture.

The council boss said plans are underway to upgrade the Information Technology Centre (ITC) at the council to standard, so that the youths, especially graduate/undergraduates can benefit from it in order to facilitate their search for white collar jobs when the need arises.

He thanked the police wives for the support given to him during his electioneering campaign and promised to renovate some building they occupy.

Leader of the POWA, Mrs. Veronica James, while presenting a portrait to the council boss, commended him for his effort in providing electricity and water within the metropolis of the council, saying it was a big relief to residents.