By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has flagged off a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund (CIF) for Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in Ogun State under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), in a major push to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and grassroots development.
The flag-off ceremony, held on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, was performed by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Ogun State Government.
The initiative is designed to provide eligible Women Affinity Groups with resources to expand their businesses, strengthen collective enterprises, create jobs, increase household incomes and contribute to local economic development.
Ogun State has established 5,394 Women Affinity Groups comprising 127,105 members across seven Local Government Areas, with the groups covering 3,489 communities.
Under the programme, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has trained 368 Ward Facilitators, while the groups have collectively saved ₦2.69 billion and disbursed ₦4.01 billion in loans among their members.
Speaking at the flag-off, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Chairman, Governing Council, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development and Special Assistant, Technical and Community Engagement, Princess Jummai Idonije, commended the Ogun State Government for its sustained commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
The Minister also applauded the women beneficiaries for demonstrating the value of collective organisation, disciplined savings, mutual support and enterprise development.
She said the initiative reflects the people-centred vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on inclusive economic growth, social protection, women’s empowerment and opportunities for vulnerable and underserved Nigerians.
According to her, women must not merely remain beneficiaries of development programmes but should be recognised as active participants and drivers of economic transformation.
She said: “Empowering women strengthens families, expands local economies, improves community resilience and contributes directly to national prosperity.”
The Minister urged the beneficiary groups to utilise the fund responsibly, maintain transparent and accurate records, invest productively and uphold the principles of accountability, cooperation and sustainability.
She also charged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to expand their businesses, increase incomes, create employment and improve the welfare of their families and communities.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim further encouraged 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).
She said such opportunities include access to finance, markets, digital skills, agriculture and value chains, clean energy, enterprise development and other productive ventures.
The Minister acknowledged the contributions of the Ogun State Government, the World Bank, the NFWP-SU Federal Project Coordinating Unit, community leaders, implementing partners and other stakeholders toward the successful implementation of the programme.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s 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.
In a statement, Ahmed Dambaso the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the flag-off represents a renewed partnership between the Federal Government and Ogun State Government to strengthen women’s economic participation, deepen grassroots development and build stronger women, stronger families and more resilient communities.
The ministry said the initiative is in line with the Renewed Hope vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.
