The Ekiti State Government has officially commenced the implementation of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at providing sustainable economic opportunities for women across the state.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Olapeju Babafemi, confirmed the launch of the programme, describing it as a vital step in promoting inclusive human capital development under the administration of Governor Abayomi Oyebanji.
“This programme represents a significant step in empowering women economically at the grassroots level. The administration’s investment in the programme is a testament to its commitment to improving women’s livelihood and economic independence. The vision of the Programme is to engender an inclusive and economically vibrant society where women are empowered to thrive,” Babafemi stated.
According to her, the initiative will initially begin operations in three Local Government Areas, Efon, Moba, and Gbonyin/Ayekire, before further expansion.
The programme is expected to strengthen teamwork among women, enhance their savings culture, build social cohesion, and improve the overall quality of life for women and their families.
The Commissioner expressed appreciation to the First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, for her significant contributions to the rollout of the programme across the state.
She also encouraged women to fully participate by forming Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and complying with the operational guidelines of the initiative.
To lay a solid foundation for the project, the State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU), led by the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Toyin Familoni, began initial community engagements and paid courtesy visits to key stakeholders in the Efon Local Government Area. These included traditional rulers, chiefs, the local government chairman, and senior council officials.
Speaking during these interactions, Familoni said, “The visits were part of strategies designed to seek community buy-in and create an enabling environment for effective implementation.”
She also highlighted the beginning of the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Exercise in Efon as a major step in aligning the project with the specific needs and realities of the communities.
“The PRA activities involve stakeholder mapping, community sensitization, and identification of ward facilitators. These are crucial steps to ensure that the intervention fits the actual requirements of the women in the community and achieves maximum impact,” Familoni explained.
The NFWP-SU is tailored to enhance women’s financial literacy, promote a strong savings culture, and increase access to finance through the structured formation of Women Affinity Groups.
According to Familoni, the programme will not only uplift individual women but also positively affect entire communities by boosting productivity and reducing poverty.
She stated that initial feedback from Efon leaders and other stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing hope that the programme will bring sustainable development and economic transformation for women in the area.
“Reactions from community leaders and stakeholders in Efon have been very encouraging. There is a strong sense of optimism that the Nigeria for Women Programme will truly bring about long-term benefits for the women involved,” she said.
Familoni further confirmed that the implementation will soon expand to Moba and Ayekire, the other two pilot local government areas selected for the first phase of the programme in Ekiti State.
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is a joint initiative by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, with financial and technical support from the World Bank. The programme is part of a wider national agenda to reduce poverty and gender inequality through women’s economic empowerment and capacity development.