Ogun State government has launched a women empowerment initiative under the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), designed to transform the livelihoods of over 105,000 women in four local government areas of the State, through improved access to finance, skills and social capital.
The benefiting local governments include Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, and Ado-Odo/Ota.
Speaking at the project implementation kick-off ceremony held at Akute in Ifo local government area, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, disclosed that the project structure would be driven by 420 ward facilitators, each responsible in forming ten (10) Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), a non-political group, consisting of twenty-five women per group, adding that the process would culminate in the establishment of 4,200 WAGs across the participating local government areas, thereby creating a strong network of economically active women.
Adeleye, while explaining the rationale for the creation of the WAGs stated that, “the Women Affinity Groups are not just gatherings, stressing that they are safe, transparent, and non-political spaces where women will learn financial literacy, entrepreneurship, savings, and investment.
"For many unbanked women, this will serve as their first connection to the formal economy, a veritable platform to save together, grow together, and rise together.”
Adeleye noted that the new phase of the project would build on the success of the first phase implemented in Odeda, Yewa North, Ijebu North-East, and Ikenne LGAs, which earned accolades and national commendations, including recognition from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and other States of the federation who visited to understudy.
She attributed the success of the first phase of the programme to the dedication and support of the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, and the State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU) led by Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, describing the team and facilitators as “the true champions of grassroots transformation.”
While encouraging women in the four new benefiting Council areas to embrace the initiative, the Adeleye emphasized that, “the Scale-Up Project is not just a government programme, but a movement to institutionalize women’s economic empowerment across the Gateway State.”
She urged women beneficiaries to seize the opportunity with courage and commitment, assuring that the State would continue to serve as a model for women-focused development initiatives in the country.
In her remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, (NFWP-SU), Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, explained that the project being an initiative of the Federal Government, was designed to promote women’s economic empowerment through structured support systems.
She explained that the Scale-Up project involved intensive training for facilitators and the formation of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), small groups of 25 women each, working collectively to build financial strength and improve their livelihoods. “The aim is for these women to rise together, scale up together, and sustain their growth through shared learning, savings, and enterprise support,” she said.
She added that the formation of the Women Affinity Groups in Ifo local government, was a major milestone for the project in the State, expressing confidence that on the successful completion of the training modules, the groups would be provided with an investment grant to boost their businesses and strengthen women-led economic activities at the grassroots.
In her goodwill message, the Chairman, Akute Central Community Development Council, Moradeun Ogundele, commended the initiative, explaining that such would improve the socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries, while promoting financial independence at the grassroot level.
No comments:
Post a Comment