The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, has officially flagged off a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund (CIF) designed to support Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across the state. The launch, which took place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, forms part of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), an initiative aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment, expanding businesses, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Programme Details and Beneficiaries
According to a press release signed by Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ogun State has established 5,394 Women Affinity Groups comprising 127,105 members across seven Local Government Areas and 3,489 communities. These groups have collectively saved ₦2.69 billion and disbursed ₦4 billion in loans among their members, demonstrating the financial discipline and mutual support within the groups.
To ensure effective implementation, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has trained 368 Ward Facilitators who will support the programme’s rollout across the state. The facilitators are expected to provide guidance and technical assistance to the Women Affinity Groups, helping them to manage funds and invest productively.
Minister’s Remarks and Praise
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who was represented at the event by Princess Jummai Idonije, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development and Special Assistant on Technical and Community Engagement, commended the Ogun State Government for its commitment to women’s economic empowerment. She also praised the beneficiaries for demonstrating the benefits of collective organisation, disciplined savings, mutual support, and enterprise development.
According to her, the initiative reflects the people-centred vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on inclusive economic growth, social protection, and women’s empowerment. She urged the beneficiary groups to use the fund responsibly, keep transparent records, invest productively, and uphold accountability and cooperation.
Future Opportunities and Partnerships
The Minister further encouraged the Ogun State Government and implementing partners to link the Women Affinity Groups with wider opportunities under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions–774 (RH-SII 774). These opportunities include access to finance, markets, digital skills, agriculture and value chains, clean energy, and enterprise development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim acknowledged the contributions of the Ogun State Government, the World Bank, the NFWP-SU Federal Project Coordinating Unit, community leaders, and other implementing partners to the programme. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with state governments and development partners to improve women’s access to productive resources, finance, skills, markets, and other economic opportunities, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The flag-off marks a renewed partnership between the Federal and Ogun State governments to deepen women’s economic participation, grassroots development, and community resilience across the state.
