The Federal Government has inaugurated the Federal Technical Committee for the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP–SU), a major move aimed at boosting women’s economic empowerment across the country. The event, held in Abuja, highlighted the government’s plan to expand support for financial inclusion, livelihood opportunities, and social protection under a unified national framework that aligns with high-value development goals and economic growth policies.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, said the committee’s creation shows the government’s commitment to strengthening women-focused interventions and deepening inclusive national development. She described the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up as a transformative extension of the Nigeria for Women Project, originally implemented from 2018 to 2024 in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba states.
According to her, the earlier project recorded remarkable achievements by reaching more than 460,000 women, forming 22,000 Women Affinity Groups, and mobilising over N4.4 billion in collective savings. She explained that the scale-up phase, approved in June 2024, will now expand the programme nationwide and integrate key components such as financial inclusion, social protection, and livelihood support. “This model strengthens Women Affinity Groups into sustainable economic institutions linked directly to formal markets and financial services,” she said.
Dr. Keshinro noted the ongoing gender gaps that affect economic participation, stressing that the scale-up aligns with the National Women Economic Empowerment Policy designed to address inequality.
She highlighted worrying statistics, stating that “seventy per cent of Nigerian women are extremely poor and have only about 10 per cent access to their own land. Although 70–80 per cent of agricultural labour is carried out by women, only 20 per cent of board representation is female.” She added that women still earn 45 to 50 per cent less than men in similar roles, while only 34 per cent of women have digital access compared to 88 per cent of men.
She said the programme also supports the World Bank Group’s Global Crises Response Framework by promoting food security through agricultural productivity and climate resilience. The Permanent Secretary urged committee members drawn from the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Education, Water Resources, Health and Social Welfare, Communications and Digital Economy, and Trade and Investments to ensure strong coordination and provide timely technical support. She encouraged them to track progress, uphold accountability, and maintain alignment with national policies and global best practices. According to her, their expertise is crucial to reaching the programme’s ambitious targets.
Presenting a progress update, the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Hadiza Maina, said engagements with state governments, development partners, financial institutions, and community leaders are ongoing to support ownership and long-term sustainability. She revealed that the scale-up phase will introduce enhanced digital tools for monitoring, real-time reporting, and better delivery of financial and livelihood assistance.
“Our goal is to ensure that every participating woman not only benefits economically but becomes part of a resilient network capable of withstanding shocks, supporting household welfare, and contributing meaningfully to the local and national economy,” she said.
Dr. Maina added that the programme is placing special focus on climate-smart agriculture, small-scale enterprise development, and digital financial literacy, noting that these areas have become crucial due to rising climate pressures, inflation, and economic vulnerabilities.
In her remarks, the Co-Task Team Lead for the World Bank, Dr. Yetunde Fatogun, praised the Federal Government for scaling up a programme that has already shown measurable improvements in women’s productivity, income, and resilience. She said the World Bank remains committed to supporting Nigeria in strengthening community systems that empower women socially and economically.
Fatogun also noted that the scale-up is happening at a time when global economic uncertainties and climate-related shocks disproportionately affect women, making continued collaboration among government institutions, development partners, and civil society vital to reaching vulnerable groups.
