The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women have launched a new partnership focused on boosting economic opportunities for women-led businesses.

The official signing ceremony took place at the private residence of Cherie Blair CBE KC, who is the Founder of the Foundation.

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, was present alongside the Cherie Blair Foundation team to officially begin this impactful collaboration.

A statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Jonathan Eze, shared on Wednesday in Abuja, revealed that this initiative is designed to provide better access to training, funding, and business markets for female entrepreneurs across the country.

Cherie Blair, while speaking on the development, highlighted the urgency of the program and its potential for growth. “I have enormous appreciation for the Ministry’s vision and commitment to women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, one that I share,” she said. “Women and their businesses are critical to Nigeria’s economy, and we must address the challenges they face to ensure sustainable growth, economic independence, and representation as leaders.”

This new alliance supports the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The program targets all 774 local government areas in Nigeria with the goal of improving the quality of life for women, children, families, and vulnerable groups.

Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed the value of this initiative. “This partnership reflects our shared belief that empowering women economically is not optional; it is essential. Through this collaboration, we are scaling real tools, real access, and real opportunity. We are not just telling stories of change; we are building systems of change that will uplift millions of Nigerian women and strengthen the future of our economy.”

She also explained that this collaboration is the product of “months of alignment, trust-building, and a shared mission to deliver measurable impact.”

With nearly 150,000 women already supported by the Cherie Blair Foundation in Nigeria, the organization’s CEO, Dhivya O’Connor, expressed confidence in the program’s potential.

“We welcome the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs adopting this tried-and-tested approach to support women’s entrepreneurship development—specialist training, digital technology to engage women, strong localization, and committed, long-term collaboration.”

The federal government has commenced a solar installation training for over 200 youths. The initiative, under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical knowledge in renewable energy.

“This week, we officially began the Solar Installation training under the NPRGS program. Participants are now gaining practical, hands-on experience in renewable energy, a vital skill for a sustainable future,” said Dr. Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education.

Beneficiaries of the programme are already mounting and wiring solar panels while learning how to convert sunlight into electricity. The hands-on training aims to provide the skills necessary to start small solar businesses and support energy access across underserved communities.

The project is being coordinated under Dr. Arogundade’s office with support from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

“Demand for solar is so much. Like today, we are training about 230 people but we had about 100 people who had to go back. We had to put them in the phase two of our programme. So it has been such a wonderful journey, and we know that the demand is there and we must supply more training to empower people across Abuja and other states across the federation,” she added.

Many of the trainees expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to use the skills gained to support themselves and their communities.

One beneficiary said, “I’m going to use it to impart people in my community and also help them just as they are giving me this training.”

Another stated, “I now know the different types of solar panels, solar PV, solar thermals, voltage, thermometer and everything.”

One of the facilitators highlighted the future impact of the training, noting, “At the end of the training, they will have the skill set to set up solar companies themselves and also the required skill sets to install solar PVs.”

This effort aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focus on energy sufficiency, job creation, and entrepreneurship through green technology.

Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has officially launched the disbursement of ₦322 million to support 8,225 adolescent girls under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project. The funds, released through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, target vulnerable students across the state.

During the launch event, Governor Lawal stated that this initiative is designed to help girls from low-income families continue their education.

“The girls were selected from the poorest and most vulnerable households,” he explained. According to him, each beneficiary will receive ₦40,000 in the first round to support school enrollment and retention.

“Additional tranches of ₦10,000 each for the second and third school terms will bring the total support to ₦60,000 per person through the parents or the caregivers,” he said.

The ₦322 million covers only the first batch, with arrangements underway for the second group of recipients.

Governor Lawal also flagged off the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.

This initiative will provide financial support to 500 beneficiaries in Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda local government areas.

He emphasized that the CRF is a sustainable approach aimed at strengthening community resilience against climate change.

“Our communities face hardships and challenges such as women striving to grow their small businesses, youths yearning for opportunities, and rural households struggling to access basic services,” the governor noted.

“With the Community Revolving Fund, we are introducing a sustainable mechanism that empowers these communities to access funds and take ownership of their development journey,” he added.

The ACReSAL project focuses on land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. It aims to empower local communities to combat land degradation and adapt to climate-induced changes using grassroots-driven solutions.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary for Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau, shared that all 8,225 girls were identified, registered, and verified from all 14 local government areas in the state.

She stated, “The ₦40,000 is a timely intervention to address key financial barriers to education and improve the girls’ long-term prospects.”

She also confirmed that all identification and ATM cards for the beneficiaries are ready for collection. “This will ensure that each beneficiary can access their funds directly and safely,” she said.

According to Hajiya Sa’adatu, the CCT initiative is a vital step in breaking the cycle of poverty. She noted that beneficiaries must maintain at least 70 percent school attendance to remain eligible, emphasizing that the programme promotes discipline and responsibility.

“It is also a shared responsibility, as beneficiaries must maintain at least 70% school attendance to remain eligible—reinforcing the importance of punctuality, discipline, and commitment,” she explained.

She called on beneficiaries to use the support responsibly and for its intended purpose. “This opportunity should be used to invest in education and personal development,” she urged.

Commenting on the ACReSAL project, Hajiya Sa’adatu described it as a critical step in tackling climate-related challenges in Zamfara. “The CRF will empower local communities to engage in dry-season farming, adopt climate-smart technologies, improve water resource management, and strengthen small enterprises,” she said.

She commended the Community Associations and Catchment Management Committees for their dedication and cooperation during the project’s rollout. “I commend the Community Associations and Catchment Management Committees for their dedication and ownership throughout this process,” she concluded.

Several beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Zamfara State Government and its partners for their support.

The event was attended by senior government officials, traditional rulers, and development stakeholders. The dual launch of AGILE and ACReSAL highlights a significant investment in both education and climate resilience in the state.