Ogun State has successfully registered a total of 2,000 Women Affinity Groups within six weeks of full project implementation, emerging as the top-performing state among those implementing the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up.
The milestone was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo. According to her, the achievement was captured on the national Project Management Information System platform, which tracks progress across participating states.
Mrs. Fadairo said the figures clearly show the strong institutional readiness of the Ogun State Government and its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment under the Scale-Up phase of the project. She noted that the pace and scale of implementation reflect deliberate planning and effective coordination across relevant institutions.
“This feat reflects the visionary leadership and unwavering support of the present administration, as well as the political will of key stakeholders involved in the project,” she said.
She commended the strategic collaboration among the Ministries of Finance, Women Affairs and Social Development, and Budget and Planning, as well as the dedication of the State Project Coordinating Unit. According to her, the synergy among these institutions has been critical to achieving rapid results at the grassroots level.
Providing a breakdown of Women Affinity Groups formation across the four implementing local government areas, Fadairo disclosed that Ijebu-Ode recorded 760 groups, representing 38 percent of the total. Ifo Local Government recorded 569 groups, accounting for 28.45 percent, while Sagamu Local Government formed 378 groups, amounting to 18.9 percent. Ado-Odo/Ota recorded 293 groups, representing 14.64 percent.
She explained that the spread of the groups shows effective community mobilisation and strong grassroots engagement across the project areas, adding that local structures were actively involved in encouraging women to participate.
The Project Coordinator reaffirmed the state’s resolve to sustain the momentum, deepen impact, and consolidate gains recorded under the NFWP-SU. She said no stone would be left unturned in positioning Ogun as a reference point for effective implementation and inclusive women-focused development across the country.
Speaking recently during a visit by nine states that came to understudy Ogun’s implementation of the NFWP-SU, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, described Women Affinity Groups as the backbone of the programme.
According to her, the groups provide the primary platform through which women are mobilised, empowered, and reached at the grassroots. “They foster trust, collective savings, peer learning, and accountability, enabling women to access financial literacy, business support, and livelihood opportunities in an inclusive and sustainable way,” she said.
Adeleye added that by strengthening social capital and giving women a collective voice, affinity groups ensure effective programme delivery, ownership, and long-term impact of NFWP-SU interventions within implementing local government areas.
She noted that the present administration has consistently demonstrated confidence in women’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development by providing policy support and institutional backing. “Although the Nigeria for Women Project commenced in 2018, the present administration not only sustained the initiative but strengthened it through the Scale-Up phase,” she said.
The Commissioner added, “I am glad to always describe Governor Dapo Abiodun’s approach as a practical demonstration of the ‘He for She’ principle. His support for women empowerment has been evident through concrete actions rather than mere declarations.”
