Women Promised Expanded Advocacy, Stronger Economic Support

Prudent Women Multipurpose Co-operative has celebrated its fifth anniversary, recounting its milestones in empowering women through capacity-building initiatives and financial support across the country.

Speaking at the anniversary event yesterday in Abuja, the president and Founder of the organisation, Mrs Msurshima Chenge, emphasised the need for women to have access to sustainable economic opportunities.

She said the cooperative, which started modestly as a women’s group, had consistently driven a vigorous campaign to reduce poverty among women nationwide.

Chenge described the past five years as “eventful,” stating that the organisation has mentored and supported women to become active contributors to Nigeria’s economic landscape rather than passive observers.

She added that the next phase of Prudent Women’s work would focus heavily on advocacy, education, and girls’ and women’s rights, to help more women achieve progress in education, business, home ownership, and leadership.

Delivering the keynote address, Hansatu Adegbite stressed that community development should not be left solely to the government.

She identified the gaps in information dissemination, access to resources, and relevant skills as key obstacles to women’s empowerment.

Adegbite called on financial institutions to introduce loan products with moderate interest rates to support women entrepreneurs.

Also speaking, the Founder of the Halima Factor Community Initiative, Halima Usman, commended Prudent Women for bringing more women into Nigeria’s economic mainstream over the last five years.

A significant highlight of the anniversary celebration was the unveiling of 100 Prudent Women, a compendium profiling one hundred women who have made an exceptional impact in their fields.