The Ogun State Government on Wednesday launched a women empowerment initiative under the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), designed to transform the livelihoods of more than 105,000 women across four local government areas through better access to finance, skills, and social capital to boost economic growth.
Speaking at the official launch held in Akute, Ifo Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, said the initiative aims to empower women economically and help them adapt to the ongoing economic challenges. She mentioned that the project will cover Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, and Ado-Odo/Ota councils.
According to Adeleye, the structure of the project would be driven by 420 Ward Facilitators, each tasked with forming ten Women Affinity Groups (WAGs). Each group will consist of twenty-five women, adding that the process will eventually lead to the creation of 4,200 Women Affinity Groups across the participating local government areas. This, she said, would help create a strong and organized network of economically active women.
“The Women Affinity Groups are not just gatherings; they are safe, transparent, and non-political spaces where women will learn financial literacy, entrepreneurship, savings, and investment,” Adeleye explained. “For many unbanked women, this will serve as their first connection to the formal economy, a veritable platform to save together, grow together, and rise together.”
She emphasized that the Women Affinity Group was not created for political purposes but to train women in entrepreneurship and financial management, helping them improve their livelihoods and cope with the effects of fuel subsidy removal. Adeleye added that the empowerment project aligns with the Ogun State Government’s broader goal of promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing poverty among women.
The Commissioner stated that this new phase builds on the success of the first phase implemented in Odeda, Yewa North, Ijebu North-East, and Ikenne local government areas. The first phase, she noted, received national recognition and commendation from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and other states that visited Ogun to study its implementation strategy.
Adeleye called for more collaboration from traditional rulers, community leaders, and grassroots stakeholders to support the initiative. She urged them not to leave the task to the government alone but to contribute to its success by encouraging women in their communities to participate actively.
“The Scale-Up Project is not just a government program but a movement to institutionalize women’s economic empowerment across the Gateway State,” she said. She also encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity with determination and integrity, promising that Ogun would continue to serve as a model for women-centered development programs across Nigeria.
The State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, explained that the first phase of the project covered Ikenne, Ijebu North-East, Odeda, and Yewa North Local Government Areas. She described the project as a Federal Government initiative implemented across six states, aimed at promoting inclusive financial empowerment for women.
Fadairo added that the Scale-Up phase involves intensive training sessions for facilitators and the creation of small groups of twenty-five women each, who would work collectively to enhance their financial independence and improve their livelihoods.
“The aim is for these women to rise together, scale up together, and sustain their growth through shared learning, savings, and enterprise support,” she said.
She noted that the successful formation of the Women Affinity Groups in Ifo Local Government represents a major step forward in the project’s progress within Ogun State. She added that upon completion of their training, the groups would receive investment grants to strengthen their businesses and promote women-led enterprises at the grassroots level.
In her goodwill message, the Chairman of Akute Central Community Development Council, Moradeun Ogundele, praised the initiative, stating that it would help improve the socio-economic conditions of the beneficiaries while encouraging financial independence for women in rural communities.
Ogundele said, “This initiative will go a long way in uplifting women at the grassroots, helping them gain financial stability, and reducing poverty in our communities.”
