The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and the World Bank, has disbursed a N6 billion community investment fund to 3,855 women affinity groups across four local government areas under the Nigerian for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU). This initiative aims to expand women-led businesses, strengthen household livelihoods, and deepen women's participation in economic activities. The programme is designed to give women greater capacity to move from subsistence activities to sustainable enterprises.
The flag-off ceremony was held at Ijebu-Ode, where the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the immediate past Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, emphasized that the intervention was designed to empower women, strengthen families, and expand opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. The beneficiary groups demonstrated their readiness by meeting programme requirements, including regular participation, savings, and internal lending.
According to the Governor, the beneficiary women had collectively saved ₦2.6 billion over the past seven months, while total loans accessed through the groups had risen to over ₦4 billion. He described the figures as evidence of the financial discipline and commitment developed by the Women Affinity Groups (WAGs). The ₦6 billion CIF is not an outright grant but a sustainable revolving financing facility designed to provide capital for establishing and expanding businesses.
The Governor explained that the intervention builds on the parent Nigeria for Women Project, which commenced implementation in Ogun in December 2020. The parent project established 3,792 WAGs across 1,003 communities in Odeda, Ikenne, Ijebu North East, and Yewa North. The Scale-Up phase has expanded to seven LGAs, including Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Abeokuta North, Ipokia, and Remo North.
The programme has covered 3,489 communities, with 664 trained Ward Facilitators, while about 26 states have visited Ogun to understudy its model. The World Bank has adopted the State as a training hub. The WAG model goes beyond access to finance, incorporating financial literacy, savings, responsible borrowing, collective accountability, business and entrepreneurial skills, gender awareness, and life skills.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Special Assistant on Technical Management, Princess Jummaih Idonije, commended the State for always taking the lead. She described the initiative as a strategic economic intervention consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The World Bank Task Team Manager, Michael Ilesanmi, underscored the broader significance of the intervention.
Beneficiaries of the intervention expressed appreciation for the opportunity created through the programme, highlighting the importance of the fund in supporting women to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods. They pledged to utilise the funds responsibly for productive economic activities and sustain the culture of savings and accountability promoted by the programme.
Key points
- Ogun State Government disburses N6 billion to 3,855 women affinity groups.
- The programme aims to expand women-led businesses and strengthen household livelihoods.
- The initiative builds on the parent Nigeria for Women Project, which commenced in Ogun in December 2020.
