Benue Government, World Bank And The New Empowerment Initiative For Women

Benue State Government just last week engaged with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and a World Bank team to activate the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) in the state. This is a World Bank-backed initiative aimed at empowering women economically across Nigeria.

With a $500 million funding, the project targets over 4 million women in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on financial inclusion, livelihood support, and social protection.

Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who has always prioritised issues of women empowerment since coming into office, has therefore given a nod for the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) to roll in the state. The governor’s support for women is a deep-rooted initiative anchored on the belief in their capacity to transform society.

For Benue State, which has approximately 3,329,000 women, about 50.3% of the total population, leveraging the opportunity offered by the NFWP-SU is not only rational but necessary to raise their economic status, given the fact that the programme seeks to increase access to financial services for women, provide training and resources for income-generating activities, and offer support for vulnerable women and communities.

During the engagement with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Makurdi on January 13, 2026, the discussions focused on improving women’s livelihoods, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting inclusive development across selected local government areas in the state.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Theresa Odachi Ikwue, described the engagement as timely and strategic, as the the programme aligns with the development agenda of Governor Alia which prioritises human capital development and grassroots economic empowerment.

The women empowerment programme will kick start in Vandeikya, Okpokwu, and Gwer East Local Government Areas, and according to the the ministry, women aged 18 to 70 years are eligible to benefit, but must have valid National Identification Number (NIN).

With this, it has become imperative for families and community leaders to support women in communities, whether mothers, wives, sisters or elderly relatives, to obtain their NIN, in order to fully participate in the programme and access its economic and social benefits.

Mr. Afolabi Olajide of the Federal Project Coordinating Unit said the Nigeria for Women Project seeks to institutionalise Women’s Affinity Groups to support income generation and community development, while

Mr. Yusuf Abdullahi, Monitoring and Evaluation Anchor, said Benue State is participating in the second phase of the project, with technical support from Abuja and the recruitment of qualified civil servants from the selected local government areas.

The Co-Task Team Leader of the NFWP-SU, Mrs. Yetunde Fatogun said the programme is designed to address gender inequality and improve women’s economic participation while adhering to World Bank recruitment and quality standards.

As the programme gets set to roll, the next phase would involve advocacy visits to the leadership of Vandeikya, Okpokwu, and Gwer East Local Government Areas.

This is no doubt a big intervention programme that will further deepen the state government’s unwavering commitment to women, especially those struggling to meet their basic needs, those displaced by conflicts, urity_: Conflict and displacement have disrupted economic activities, and women facing barriers to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment

Governor Alia has initiated several programmes to empower women in Benue State, including the Project 774 Explode, an initiative that provides financial assistance, skills acquisition training, and mentorship to women. Over 5,000 women benefited from the programme across the 23 local government areas of Benue State.

There is also the No Woman, No Nation, and Alia Cares programmes initiated to uplift 6,000 women from poverty and promote gender equality.

The government also offers grants and soft loans to women through their cooperative groups to kick-start trade, agriculture, petty businesses, and other ventures.

The Alia administration also provided skills acquisition training for women in various fields like fashion design, catering, ICT, welding, carpentry, and solar energy installation. The statement government has also facilitated loans from the Bank of Agriculture Grants for over 27,600 women to support their economic empowerment initiatives.

These initiatives demonstrate Governor Alia’s commitment to empowering women in Benue State. These programs have improved the lives of many women in the state, enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute to the state’s economic growth. The governor’s commitment to empowering women has been praised by various stakeholders, including the National Association of Women Journalists.