Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has officially launched the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) in Katsina State, setting the stage for what he calls “a statewide revolution in women empowerment and community transformation.”
The north west- NFWP, held in the state government house, drew participants from across Nigeria and marked a significant milestone in Katsina’s commitment to gender-inclusive development.
The Nigeria for Women Project, supported by the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, was initially implemented in three local government areas: Katsina, Funtua, and Daura. Governor Radda has pledged to expand the project across all 33 LGAs using state resources.
“Why stop at three when the potential is at 33?” Governor Radda asked, emphasising that nearly 800,000 women are already engaged in the project through over 33,000 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs).
The governor hailed the project as a game-changer in the fight against poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.
According to him, empowering women with access to education, finance, and leadership opportunities is not only socially smart but also economically smart.
“Neglecting women is not only unjust, it’s unwise. When women thrive, families flourish, economies grow, and communities stabilise,” he said.
Delegates from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Gombe, and Ogun states also attended the launch, signalling the initiative’s growing national momentum.
Governor Radda reaffirmed the North-West Governors Forum’s commitment to the project’s success.
Under his administration, Katsina State has already introduced several gender-responsive policies, including girl-child education programmes, maternal health services, and support for female entrepreneurs through grants and training.
The NFWP is seen as a strategic extension of these efforts.
“We are not empowering women out of pity, but out of purpose,” Governor Radda declared. “They are not just recipients of aid, they are architects of change.”
The governor concluded his remarks by thanking the World Bank, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and all development partners. He promised to back the project with political will, sustained funding, and measurable action.
Over 2 million women are projected to benefit in the long term, and the launch of the Nigeria for Women Project in Katsina marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s gender and development journey, one that may soon become a national model.
In a keynote address delivered at the event, the honourable minister of women affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, called for a nationwide movement to empower Nigerian women economically.
“This is not just a project, it is a national imperative,” she said, noting that 32 states have already signed onto the initiative, with Katsina and Ekiti states commencing community-level implementation.
Framing the NFWP-SU within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, GCFR, the minister emphasised that no nation can prosper by sidelining half its population.
“Our mission is clear: build systems, scale innovation, and invest in the last-mile woman,” she stated.
The minister highlighted troubling statistics from the 2023 EFInA survey, which showed that the North-West has the highest financial exclusion rate, with 47 percent of adults lacking access to formal or informal financial services.
“This financial gap limits women’s ability to invest in their livelihoods or break out of poverty. The urgency for gender-responsive interventions like the NFWP cannot be overstated,” she asserted.
Minister Ibrahim outlined that the NFWP-SU, based on evidence and lessons from its pilot phase, will focus on transforming social norms, providing access to credit, promoting women’s leadership, improving savings culture, and strengthening Women Affinity Groups (WAGs).
These groups have shown results: up to 30% increased household income and over 40 per cent reduction in reliance on informal credit.
She reaffirmed the project’s rigorous monitoring, robust fiduciary systems, and long-term sustainability, clarifying that the NFWP-SU is not a handout, but a strategic public investment.
“We expect states to show commitment, timely release of funds, and results-driven leadership. From beneficiaries, we expect transparency and collective progress,” the minister said.
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