The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim Suleiman, has announced that the World Bank will front-load between $6 million and $8 million to Katsina State to accelerate the expansion of the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), describing the state as a national model for implementing the programme.
The minister made the announcement when she led a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the World Bank and the Nigeria for Women Project on a courtesy visit to the Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, in Abuja.
Commending Governor Radda for what she described as his unwavering commitment to women’s economic empowerment, the minister said his leadership had positioned Katsina as a national model and pace setter in implementing the Nigeria for Women Project.
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She said the meeting was to review the progress of the project and explore ways of strengthening collaboration towards expanding its impact across the state.
According to the minister, implementation challenges have been resolved, while the World Bank will front-load between $6 million and $8 million to support the programme’s expansion across all 34 Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
She also applauded Governor Radda’s commitment to extending the initiative statewide and commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, for her dedication to implementing the project, acknowledging the role of the State Ministry of Women Affairs in driving its success.
The minister further welcomed Governor Radda’s decision to develop a complementary Nigeria for Men Initiative, saying it was inspired by the success of the Nigeria for Women Project and reflected “the far reaching impact of the Project and the power of proven models to inspire broader solutions for sustainable development.”
She also disclosed plans to pursue an additional $1.5 billion in financing for the programme nationwide, noting that about 4.5 million of the targeted 10 million Nigerian women had already benefited.
Counterpart Fund
Speaking, Governor Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding the project across all 34 Local Government Areas and disclosed that the Katsina State Government had already committed ₦4 billion as counterpart funding.
Calling for faster implementation of the programme, the governor said:
“I was concerned about the slow pace of implementation because Katsina fulfilled its counterpart funding obligation since last year. We invested in this programme because we believe it will uplift families across the state.”
He noted that the state’s security challenges had displaced many families and made the project critical to rebuilding livelihoods, and reiterated that expanding the programme beyond the initial three benefiting local government areas would improve living standards and security.
Governor Radda also commended the participating women for embracing the Affinity Group model, stating that they had mobilised about ₦192 million in savings before receiving external support.
“The most impressive aspect is that beneficiaries first help themselves. Their commitment to savings, discipline and self-reliance is the foundation of sustainable development.” He noted.
The governor said that the success of the women’s groups had inspired plans for a state funded Nigeria for Men Initiative to promote youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, economic self-reliance and community development.
“If we can successfully organise our young people around these values, Katsina will witness significant socio-economic transformation within the next five years.”
Financial Inclusion
Also speaking, the Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, said the project had strengthened discipline, accountability, financial inclusion and self reliance among women.
She explained that beneficiaries undergo group formation, savings mobilisation and institutional strengthening before accessing the Community Investment Fund (CIF), expressing optimism that the first set of beneficiaries would qualify by October.
The World Bank Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Project, Mr. Micheal Ilesanmi, described Katsina as one of the leading states in programme implementation.
He attributed the progress recorded to Governor Radda’s strong leadership and commitment, confirming that the World Bank would front-load between $6 million and $8 million this year to accelerate implementation.
Ilesanmi also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to secure an additional $1.5 billion to expand the programme nationwide, assuring the state of continued technical support.
Responding to Governor Radda’s enquiry, he explained that beneficiaries would access the Community Investment Fund after demonstrating sustained savings, strong governance and organisational capacity, with the first beneficiaries expected to access the facility within three to four months.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the Katsina State Government, the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to accelerate implementation of the Nigeria for Women Project across all 34 Local Government Areas of the state.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Fadilla Mohammed Dikko; and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi.
