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.
She added that initiatives such as the Adire Ekiti Hub and the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope Support Foundation (WAOH) had already empowered thousands of women in the state through grants, training and business support programmes.
Dr Oyebanji urged beneficiaries to utilise the Community Investment Funds responsibly and ensure the resources are invested into sustainable ventures capable of generating long-term economic growth.
Earlier in her remarks, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, described the disbursement as a significant milestone in the state’s women empowerment and grassroots development efforts.
She explained that the World Bank-supported initiative seeks to improve women’s livelihoods by increasing access to economic opportunities, productive resources, social capital and community-driven support systems.
Babafemi disclosed that over 25,000 women had already been enrolled into more than 1,500 Women Affinity Groups across the state, while 215 jobs had been created through activities linked to the programme.
She further announced that the 142 Women Affinity Groups in Efon Local Government Area successfully met the programme’s six-month operational requirement and would each receive N1.65 million under the Community Investment Fund.
The World Bank Task Team Leader and Senior Social Development Specialist, Mr Michael Ilesanmi, said the programme was developed in response to the numerous social and economic barriers confronting women in Nigeria.
He explained that the Nigeria for Women Programme adopts a multidimensional strategy that combines access to finance, business support, social empowerment, leadership development and community mobilisation.
According to him, Women Affinity Groups function as cooperative structures where women can save collectively, access loans, receive business and financial literacy training, strengthen leadership capacity and build supportive social networks.
He noted that beyond enterprise support, the programme also encourages women’s participation in household and community decision-making processes while helping to reduce poverty and social exclusion.
“The programme is not just about funding. It is about creating systems that allow women to participate meaningfully in economic and social activities,” Ilesanmi said.
Chairman of the Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Structure and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, said the initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication, gender equality, decent work and quality education.
He described women as critical drivers of family welfare and community development, stressing that empowering women produces positive economic effects across households and local economies.
Adebayo urged beneficiaries to maintain transparency, accountability and cooperation within their groups while encouraging men to support women participating in empowerment initiatives.
In a goodwill message, Her Royal Majesty, Olori Bosede Adejugbe, described the Community Investment Fund as a strategic investment in women-owned enterprises, family welfare and community development.
She noted that Women Affinity Groups had helped many women strengthen savings culture, improve access to finance, acquire entrepreneurial skills and build resilience against economic hardship.
Chairman of Efon Local Government, Mr Afolabi Segun, also commended the initiative, describing it as an important investment in the future of women, families and communities across the state.
He pledged the support of local government authorities towards ensuring the successful implementation of the programme at the grassroots level.
The event also featured testimonies from beneficiaries who shared how participation in Women Affinity Groups had transformed their businesses and livelihoods.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Wosilat Akande, said she used a loan obtained through her group to invest in farming activities, which later 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 and grow a cowhide (ponmo) business.
Mrs Juliet Iyanuoluwa also credited the programme for helping her expand her enterprise through savings and access to affordable credit facilities.
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is currently being implemented in Efon, Moba, Gbonyin/Ayekire, Ado, Ijero and Oye local government areas in Ekiti State.
Officials say the programme will continue to expand as more Women Affinity Groups meet operational requirements and qualify for financial support under the Community Investment Fund framework.
