Yari Urges BoI, Kaduna Govt To Tackle Funding Gaps, Insecurity Facing Women

Kaduna-based entrepreneur and women’s advocate, Rachael Obi Yari, has urged the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Kaduna State Government to address funding gaps and rising insecurity threatening women entrepreneurs in the state.

Yari, founder of Kegy’s Conglomerate and convener of the Real She Power Conference, made the appeal in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, saying limited access to business funding and insecurity were undermining women’s efforts to grow their businesses, particularly in agriculture.

She said she had held meetings with the management of BoI in Kaduna to explore funding opportunities for women operating small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

“One of the biggest challenges is access to funding for small and medium-scale enterprises. I have had meetings with the manager, Bank of Industry Kaduna, to see how women can get access to business funding,” she said.

Yari also expressed concern that insecurity in parts of the state had forced women farmers to abandon their farms, threatening their livelihoods and agricultural ambitions.

“Most of our women in the agricultural industry had to stop due to the high rise of insecurity ravaging the areas where their farms are located,” she said.

She appealed to the state government to strengthen security in affected communities to enable women to return to their farms and sustain their agricultural businesses.

“We plead with the government of this great state to please come through for the people in this area, so our women can find a safe ground to run their agricultural dreams,” she said.

Beyond her advocacy for women’s economic empowerment, Yari said her humanitarian work began in 2010 with a hospital outreach in Zaria and had expanded to include skills acquisition training for orphans and persons with disabilities, support for widows and Ramadan food distribution.

She also said she had operated a petrol-money support scheme for commercial motorcycle riders for seven years.

Through the biannual Real She Power Conference, Yari said some participants had established businesses after receiving start-up grants.

She described the personal transformation of women who participated in the initiative as one of the most rewarding aspects of her advocacy.

“One of my most rewarding feedbacks is not just hearing from these women but seeing these women discover their true identity, seeing women live beyond hate, hurts and competition,” she said.

Yari is scheduled to unveil Kegy’s Spa & Gift World in Kaduna on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

The event is expected to attract Aishat Abdulsam, Manager of BoI in Kaduna; Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, Commissioner for Youth Development in Kaduna State; and Mrs Patience Fakai, Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology.