The Ogun State Government has taken a significant step towards women's economic empowerment with the establishment of 2,000 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across four local government areas. This initiative is part of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), designed to provide women with crucial access to finance, skills training, and social capital to improve their livelihoods.
Project Launch and Core Objectives
At the official kickoff of the project, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, clarified the purpose of the groups. She emphasized that these assemblies are not politically motivated. Instead, they serve as platforms for women to gather and learn essential skills in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, savings, and investment, fostering economic connections among members.
Record-Breaking Formation and Geographic Spread
The Project Coordinator, Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, hailed the achievement, noting that registering 2,000 groups within just six weeks demonstrates the state's strong institutional readiness. She described the feat, as tracked by the national Project Management Information System (PMIS), as a motivating factor for further empowerment.
Fadairo provided a detailed breakdown of the WAG formations:
- Ijebu-Ode LGA: 760 groups, accounting for 38% of the total.
- Ifo LGA: 569 groups, representing 28.45%.
- Sagamu LGA: 378 groups, amounting to 18.9%.
- Ado-Odo/Ota LGA: 293 groups, making up 14.64%.
This spread, according to Fadairo, reflects effective community mobilisation and grassroots engagement in the project areas.
Sustaining Momentum for Statewide Impact
Fadairo commended the collaborative efforts of key state ministries, including Finance, Women Affairs and Social Development, and Budget and Planning, alongside the State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU). She attributed the success to the visionary leadership and unwavering support of Governor Dapo Abiodun's administration and the political will of all stakeholders involved.
Reaffirming the state's commitment, Fadairo stated the resolve to sustain the momentum, deepen impact, and consolidate gains under the NFWP-SU. The ultimate goal is to position Ogun State as a national reference point for effective implementation of inclusive, women-focused development programs.
