The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has launched a nationwide campaign to register one million women into the Micro Pension Plan, a scheme designed to help women in Nigeria’s informal sector save for retirement and secure their financial future.
The initiative was unveiled by the Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, during an outreach campaign held at Mile 12 Market in Lagos as part of activities to mark International Women’s Day.
According to the Commission, the campaign focuses on women working in the informal sector, including traders, artisans and farmers, many of whom currently lack access to formal pension benefits despite their major contributions to the economy.
Addressing market women and entrepreneurs at the event, Oloworaran highlighted the need to provide financial protection for women whose daily work sustains families and communities across the country.
“Nigerian women wake up very early in the morning, sometimes as early as 3 am or 4 am, to open their shops, run their market stalls, farm the land and support their families,” she said.
“Despite contributing so much to the economy, many women in the informal sector live their lives without financial protection for their retirement years.”
The campaign is themed “Give to Gain – Save Small Today, Gain Big Tomorrow” and is designed to encourage women to begin saving small amounts that will grow over time. To further boost participation, PenCom announced a week-long matching contribution window from March 9 to March 13, 2026.
During this period, the Commission will match individual contributions of up to N20,000, providing additional incentive for women to join the scheme and begin building retirement savings.
Explaining the structure of the programme, Oloworaran said the Micro Pension Plan is flexible and designed specifically for workers with irregular income patterns, which is common within the informal sector.
“That means when you save, we also add to your savings. It is a direct investment in the dignity and financial independence of the Nigerian woman,” she stated.
PenCom said the outreach campaign will extend across all geopolitical zones of the country as part of efforts to reach more women and expand awareness about the benefits of the Micro Pension Plan.
At the Lagos leg of the programme, the Commission engaged 132 women drawn from various trade associations including the Lagos State Tailors and Fashion Designers Association, the Nigerian Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, and the Lagos State Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmetology Association.
Participants were encouraged not only to enrol in the scheme but also to act as ambassadors who would spread awareness about the programme within their communities and professional groups.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA), Lawrence Ajayi, commended PenCom and the Lagos State Government for the initiative, describing it as a positive step towards improving financial security among artisans.
He also suggested that the programme could be expanded in the future to include male artisans.
“Both men and women under LASCOTA are up to seven million, and that is a big plus for this initiative,” Ajayi said.
Addressing concerns about the safety of pension contributions, Oloworaran reassured participants that the system remains secure.
“The pension industry has been in existence since 2004, and it has proved to be safe and secure,” she said.
“We are targeting one million women to register under this scheme within the year. Some people think it is a high target, but considering the size of the informal sector workforce, it is achievable.”
