The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank and the Ekiti State Government, has commenced the disbursement of over N234.3 million in Community Investment Funds to 142 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU).
The disbursement marks the official rollout of the programme in Ekiti State and forms part of broader efforts aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment, improving financial inclusion and supporting grassroots enterprise development across participating communities.
The initiative is expected to benefit more than 25,000 women currently enrolled in over 1,500 Women Affinity Groups spread across six local government areas in the state.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held at the Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the programme as a major component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on poverty reduction, inclusive economic growth, job creation and social protection.
She said the programme was created in recognition of the economic role women continue to play across Nigeria despite facing challenges in accessing finance, land, markets, technology and other productive resources.
“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,” the Minister said.
According to her, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, working with the World Bank and participating states, is implementing the second phase of the programme with a nationwide target of reaching about five million women.
She explained that the pilot phase of the programme economically empowered approximately 450,000 women, while the scale-up phase is designed to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen enterprise growth, improve entrepreneurial skills and support women-led community economic organisations.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for creating an enabling environment for the programme and mobilising thousands of women into productive economic groups.
She noted that the state had already recorded significant progress through the establishment of more than 1,500 Women Affinity Groups involving over 25,000 women engaged in different productive economic activities.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while addressing beneficiaries and stakeholders at the event, said Ekiti State fulfilled the eligibility requirements for participation in the programme in 2024 through the payment of a N450 million counterpart fund.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for bringing the programme to the state.
According to the governor, the initiative has the potential to transform businesses, strengthen household incomes and expand economic opportunities for women across communities.
He urged beneficiaries to use the funds strictly for productive ventures and business expansion rather than non-essential spending.
“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,” Oyebanji said.
The governor also called for the expansion of the programme to all local government areas in Ekiti State, noting that more women should be given access to financial support and enterprise development opportunities.
He assured the Minister of continued collaboration between the state government and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to further implement programmes aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, described the programme as a strategic intervention capable of improving women’s economic conditions and strengthening communities.
She said Women Affinity Groups provide structured platforms through which women can save money, access support systems, acquire skills and improve their businesses.
According to her, economically empowered women contribute directly to stronger families, better educational outcomes for children and more stable communities.