The Jennifer Etuh Foundation has trained 1,000 women across Zaria and Makarfi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State under the Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment Project as part of efforts to strengthen household livelihoods and support women-led micro-enterprises. The NGO said it is also preparing to expand its activities to more LGAs in 2026 through ongoing collaboration with partner organisations.
Speaking at the official close-out ceremony of the 2025 implementation cycle on Tuesday in Zaria, the Programme Manager of the Foundation, Mr Joseph Otu, explained that the initiative, which began in January 2024, is funded by the Bayer Foundation and implemented by a consortium focused on boosting women’s productivity, increasing family income and reducing economic vulnerability in rural communities.
According to him, “We are working closely in partnership with several organisations under the Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment Project which we started in 2024 with sponsorship from the Bayer Foundation. This is our third implementation location after Kaura and Jema’a LGAs, and now Zaria and Makarfi.”
He stated that under the 2025 cycle, 600 beneficiaries received training in vertical sack farming, while 400 women were trained in vocational skills across six trades, including tailoring, bag making, cosmetology and hairdressing.
At the Zaria close-out ceremony, participants showcased vegetables and crops grown through their sack farming structures, while vocational trainees displayed bags, shoes, garments, confectionery and beauty products produced during their classes. Starter packs and sewing machines were also handed over to beneficiaries who qualified for the support.
Otu said the project’s impact is already noticeable within the communities. He noted that, according to him, “The women are driving the project. They are testifying. We can see their produce in the marketplace ready for sale, and some started selling from the onset. That’s the whole idea — sustainable empowerment.”
He encouraged the beneficiaries to apply their knowledge in ways that uplift their families and extend opportunities to others. “What we expect from the beneficiaries is to multiply what they have been given. Many of them can now stand in as trainers to teach others. Replicating these skills will help empower more women, uplift homes, and strengthen their respective communities,” he said.
Otu stressed that empowering women creates long-term social benefits. He added, “Empowering women produces a wide-reaching impact because once you empower a woman, you have empowered the community, the family, and the nation as a whole.” He however acknowledged that sustaining empowerment initiatives of this scale remains capital-intensive.
