Over 2.1 billion Naira has been disbursed to 1,395 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in Ekiti State under the Nigeria for Women Programme – Scale Up (NFWP-SU) aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment and expanding grassroots businesses across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony and disbursement of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) held at the Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described women empowerment as a critical tool for achieving sustainable peace and development in Nigeria.
She explained that the initiative, which directly benefits about 25,000 women in Ekiti State, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a focus on poverty reduction, social protection and economic dignity.
The minister noted that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with the World Bank and state governments to ensure the successful implementation of the programme across the country, stressing that increased investment in women remains essential for inclusive national development.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who announced the expansion of the programme beyond the initial pilot local governments of Moba, Ayekire and Efon, disclosed that his administration had approved measures to ensure that all sixteen local government areas in the state benefit from the initiative.
He urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds responsibly to improve their businesses and enhance their standard of living.
Also speaking the wife of the governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, expressed confidence that the Nigeria for Women Programme would deliver lasting economic benefits to women across the state and contribute significantly to shared prosperity.
She described the event as a landmark achievement in the collective effort to improve the socio-economic conditions of women at the grassroots.
Dr. Oyebanji commended the partnership among the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the World Bank and the Ekiti State Government, noting that the collaboration had strengthened programme delivery and accelerated development outcomes in participating communities.
According to her, women remain central to community development and nation-building, making deliberate investment in their welfare a strategic necessity.
The First Lady highlighted the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to women empowerment through education, economic inclusion and leadership opportunities, adding that Ekiti currently ranks among the leading states in terms of women’s participation in elective and appointive positions.
Dr. Oyebanji further stated that empowering women has far-reaching implications for family welfare and community development.
“When women save, they invest in their children’s education and their families’ well-being. When women’s businesses grow, children receive better care and education, families become stronger, and our communities become more peaceful and prosperous”. She said.
Drawing attention to her personal interventions through the Adire Ekiti Hub and the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope Support Foundation (WAOH), the governor’s wife explained that thousands of women had benefited from training programmes, cash grants and working tools designed to enhance their businesses and promote self-reliance.
She urged beneficiaries of the Community Investment Fund to deploy the resources judiciously in order to build sustainable enterprises and stronger households.
Earlier, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, disclosed that over 1,500 women groups had already been registered under the programme, with plans to accommodate more beneficiaries to deepen financial inclusion and economic opportunities for women across the state.
In their goodwill messages, Eyesorun of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Olori Abosede Adejugbe, World Bank representative Mr. Michael Ilesanmi and other stakeholders described the initiative as a transformative intervention capable of unlocking the economic potential of women and accelerating inclusive development.
Some beneficiaries, including Mrs. Wosilat Olorunkemi and Mrs. Deborah Ategbero, praised the Federal and State Governments for prioritising women-focused interventions, saying the programme would strengthen their businesses and improve their families’ livelihoods.
They pledged to make effective use of the funds to achieve sustainable growth and economic independence.
