The Federal Government has launched a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund (CIF) to support 5,394 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in Ogun State. The fund, which was flagged off on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode, aims to expand women-owned businesses, create jobs, and boost household incomes. The initiative is part of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), in collaboration with the Ogun State Government. The program targets 127,105 women across 3,489 communities in seven local government areas.
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development stated that the investment is designed to provide eligible Women Affinity Groups with resources to expand their businesses, strengthen collective enterprises, improve productivity, and contribute to local economic development. The ministry reported that the 5,394 groups have collectively saved ₦2.69 billion, while ₦4.01 billion has been disbursed as loans among their members. This substantial financial activity demonstrates the groups' potential for economic growth and development.
The ministry has trained 368 ward facilitators to support the implementation of the program at the grassroots level. Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Jummai Idonije, commended the Ogun State Government for its sustained support for women's economic empowerment. She also praised the women beneficiaries for demonstrating the value of collective organization, disciplined savings, mutual support, and enterprise development.
The intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusive economic growth, social protection, women's empowerment, and opportunities for vulnerable and underserved Nigerians. Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that women should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of development but as active participants and drivers of economic transformation. Empowering women, she said, strengthens families, expands local economies, improves community resilience, and contributes directly to national prosperity.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged the beneficiary groups to utilize the fund responsibly, maintain transparent and accurate records, invest productively, and uphold accountability, cooperation, and sustainability. She encouraged the groups to deploy the funds towards expanding their businesses, increasing incomes, creating employment, and improving the welfare of their families and communities. The minister also urged the Ogun State Government and implementing partners to connect the Women Affinity Groups to wider opportunities under the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions-774 (RH-SII 774).
The minister identified access to finance, markets, digital skills, agriculture and value chains, clean energy, and enterprise development as opportunities that could further strengthen the women's businesses. She acknowledged the partnership of the Ogun State Government, the World Bank, the NFWP-SU Federal Project Coordinating Unit, community leaders, implementing partners, and other stakeholders in advancing the program. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with state governments and development partners to ensure that women, particularly those in rural, poor, and underserved communities, gain greater access to productive resources, finance, skills, markets, and economic opportunities.
The program's success will be monitored through the trained ward facilitators, who will provide support and guidance to the beneficiary groups. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will also work with the Ogun State Government to ensure that the program is sustainable and has a lasting impact on the lives of the women beneficiaries. The ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund is expected to have a positive impact on the economy and the lives of the women in Ogun State.
Key points
- 5,394 Women Affinity Groups in Ogun State to benefit from ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund
- The fund aims to expand women-owned businesses, create jobs, and boost household incomes
- The program aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prioritizing inclusive economic growth and women's empowerment
