Ekiti Launches Women Empowerment Programme, Disburses N234.3m to 142 Groups.
...Minister says initiative targets five million women nationwide.
....Oyebanji seeks expansion to all LGAs, urges beneficiaries to invest wisely.
The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank and the Ekiti State Government, has officially flagged off the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Ekiti State with the disbursement of over N234.3 million in Community Investment Funds to 142 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in Efon Local Government Area.
The programme, designed to strengthen women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion and social development, is expected to benefit more than 25,000 women already enrolled in over 1,500 Women Affinity Groups across six participating local government areas in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Fajuyi Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as a key component of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at promoting inclusive development, poverty reduction, job creation and social protection.
She commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his leadership and commitment to women's empowerment, noting that the mobilisation of thousands of women into productive economic groups in Ekiti reflected the administration's dedication to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
According to the Minister, women account for more than half of Nigeria's population and contribute significantly to agriculture and the informal economy, yet continue to face barriers in accessing finance, land, technology and markets.
"No economy can afford to exclude the majority of its productive force. That reality informed the Nigeria for Women Project and its Scale-Up Programme," she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the World Bank and participating states, is implementing the second phase of the programme with a target of reaching about five million women nationwide.
She disclosed that while the pilot phase economically empowered about 450,000 women, the scale-up phase seeks to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen enterprise development, build entrepreneurial skills and support community-based economic organisations through Women Affinity Groups.
The Minister noted that Ekiti had already recorded significant progress, with over 1,500 Women Affinity Groups bringing together more than 25,000 women actively engaged in productive economic activities.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while addressing the gathering at the programme, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the World Bank and the Ministry of Women Affairs for bringing the initiative to the state.
The governor disclosed that Ekiti fulfilled the eligibility requirements for participation in the programme as far back as 2024 by paying a counterpart fund of N450 million.
He stressed that the programme should be extended to all local government areas of the state given its potential to transform businesses and improve household incomes.
The governor urged beneficiaries to deploy the funds strictly for business expansion and productive ventures rather than non-essential expenditures.
"When this money is invested properly, it will help businesses grow, create prosperity and improve the welfare of families.
That is the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to ensure Nigerian families live better and feed well," he stated.
Oyebanji assured the Minister of continued collaboration between the state government and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda and expand opportunities for women across Ekiti.
In her remarks, the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, described the programme as a landmark intervention that aligns with the administration's commitment to women's development and community advancement.
She said the Women Affinity Groups provide safe platforms for women to save, access support, acquire skills and improve their economic conditions.
According to her, when women prosper economically, families become stronger, children receive better education and care, and communities become more peaceful and prosperous.
The First Lady noted that her own interventions through the Adire Ekiti Hub and the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope Support Foundation (WAOH) had empowered thousands of women through training, grants and business support.
She urged beneficiaries to utilise the Community Investment Funds responsibly and ensure that the resources translate into sustainable businesses and long-term economic growth.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, described the event as a significant milestone in the state's efforts to promote women's empowerment and grassroots development.
She explained that the World Bank-supported programme seeks to improve women's livelihoods through access to economic opportunities, productive resources, social capital and community-driven interventions.
Babafemi disclosed that over 25,000 women have been enrolled into more than 1,500 Women Affinity Groups, while 215 jobs have been created through the programme's implementation in Ekiti.
She announced that 142 Women Affinity Groups in Efon Local Government Area, having successfully met the programme's six-month operational requirement, would each receive N1.65 million under the Community Investment Fund.
Also speaking, the World Bank Task Team Leader and Senior Social Development Specialist, Mr Michael Ilesanmi, said the programme was designed in response to the multiple and complex barriers confronting women in Nigeria.
He explained that the Nigeria for Women Programme adopts a multidimensional approach that combines financial support, skills development, social empowerment and community mobilisation.
According to him, Women Affinity Groups serve as platforms through which women save collectively, access loans, receive training in business and financial literacy, strengthen leadership skills and build supportive social networks.
He noted that beyond economic empowerment, the groups also help women gain greater participation in household and community decision-making, reduce poverty and address social constraints that limit women's full participation in economic activities.
The Chairman of the Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Structure and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, said the programme aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, gender equality, quality education and decent work.
He described women as the backbone of families and communities, stressing that empowering them would generate positive multiplier effects for households and the wider economy.
Adebayo urged beneficiaries to remain committed to the ideals of cooperation, transparency and accountability while calling on men, particularly husbands, to support women participating in empowerment programmes.
In a goodwill message, Her Royal Majesty, Olori Bosede Adejugbe, described the Community Investment Fund as a strategic investment in women's enterprises, family welfare and community development.
She said Women Affinity Groups had helped women strengthen savings culture, improve access to finance, acquire entrepreneurial skills and build resilience against economic challenges.
Similarly, Chairman of Efon Local Government, Mr Afolabi Segun, lauded the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of women, families and communities, pledging the support of local governments towards its success.
The event featured testimonies from beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed through participation in Women Affinity Groups.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Wosilat Akande, said she used a loan obtained through her group to invest in farming, a venture that eventually enabled her to acquire personal farmland where she now cultivates maize and plantain.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Deborah Ategbero, said access to group loans helped her establish a thriving cowhide (ponmo) business, while Mrs Juliet Iyanuoluwa credited the programme for helping her expand her enterprise through savings and affordable credit.
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is currently being implemented in Efon, Moba, Gbonyin/Ayekire, Ado, Ijero and Oye local government areas, with plans for further expansion as more women groups qualify for support.
