The Ogun State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and the World Bank, has commenced the disbursement of N6bn to 3,855 Women Affinity Groups across four local government areas under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up.
The Punch reported that the intervention, which was flagged off in Ijebu-Ode, is aimed at supporting women-owned businesses, improving household incomes and encouraging greater participation of women in economic activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the immediate-past Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye, said the funding would help beneficiaries transition from subsistence activities to sustainable businesses.
“Today, we gather not merely to mark the disbursement of a fund, but to celebrate another important step in our deliberate journey of empowering women, strengthening families and expanding opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
“The beneficiary groups have demonstrated their readiness for the intervention by meeting key programme requirements, including regular participation, savings and internal lending, opening bank accounts and preparing Micro-Investment Plans.”
Abiodun disclosed that the beneficiary groups had collectively saved N2.6bn within seven months, while more than N4bn had been accessed as loans through the groups.
He said the figures reflected the level of financial discipline, trust and commitment developed by the women through the programme.
“These figures are more than statistics; they are compelling evidence of the financial discipline, trust, commitment and readiness that the Women Affinity Groups have developed under the programme,” he said.
The governor explained that the N6bn Community Investment Fund was not an outright grant but a revolving financing facility intended to provide capital for businesses, create jobs and improve household welfare.
He noted that the intervention built on the Nigeria for Women Project, which began in Ogun in December 2020 following the signing of the project between the World Bank and the Federal Government in 2018.
According to him, the initial project established 3,792 Women Affinity Groups in 1,003 communities across Odeda, Ikenne, Ijebu North-East and Yewa North local government areas.
He added that 368 Ward Facilitators were trained and deployed, while 67,094 women received individual grants in April 2022.
Abiodun said the Scale-Up phase had since expanded to seven local government areas, namely Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Abeokuta North, Ipokia and Remo North.
He stated that 5,394 Women Affinity Groups had been established under the scale-up programme, benefiting 124,062 women as of September 21, 2026.
“The programme has also covered 3,489 communities, with 664 trained ward facilitators, while about 26 states have visited Ogun to study its model and the World Bank has adopted the state as a training hub,” Abiodun stated.
The governor said the programme was not limited to providing access to funds, as it also focused on financial literacy, savings, responsible borrowing, collective accountability, entrepreneurial skills, gender awareness and life skills.
He added that beneficiaries were being connected to opportunities in areas including health insurance, climate adaptation, strategic partnerships and National Identification Number enrolment.
“In other words, the programme is building not only businesses, but knowledgeable, financially disciplined and economically resilient women,” he said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing the necessary policy support and institutional cooperation to strengthen the intervention.
He also commended the World Bank, Federal Project Coordinating Unit and other partners for their contributions to the programme.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by her Special Assistant on Technical Management, Jummaih Idonije, described the initiative as a strategic economic intervention aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She said creating more economic opportunities for women was important to achieving inclusive national development.
The minister also commended Ogun State for its implementation of the programme and urged beneficiaries to sustain the initiative and encourage other Women Affinity Groups to follow their example.
The World Bank Task Team Manager, Michael Ilesanmi, said the programme was helping to address gaps in women’s access to finance while improving their ability to cope with economic challenges.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and Chairman of the Multi-Sectoral Committee of the NFWP-SU, Dapo Okubadejo, said the intervention demonstrated the importance of targeted investment in women.
Okubadejo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Adebimpe Obienu, noted that women contributed significantly to the economy as traders, farmers, processors, artisans, entrepreneurs and community builders.
He praised the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other stakeholders for supporting the programme, while also acknowledging community leaders for helping to drive its acceptance at the grassroots.
Some beneficiaries, including Oyesanya Omotoke of Irede WAG in Sagamu, Ayomide Ogunleye of Ifeoluwa WAG in Ijebu-Ode and Adesola Teriba, Chairperson of Success WAG in Abeokuta North, expressed appreciation for the intervention.
They said the funding would enable women to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods, while the WAG model for encouraging savings, internal lending, financial discipline and collective responsibility.
