The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has launched the EmpowerHer Digital Financial Literacy Programme, an initiative designed to equip Nigerian women with the knowledge and tools needed to manage finances effectively, grow businesses and build sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative, targeted at training 100,000 women across the country, has already recorded 254,998 registrations, reflecting strong national interest.
Speaking during the virtual launch and inaugural training, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as “a defining moment in our nation’s journey to build a generation of women who are financially literate, digitally skilled and economically empowered.
Under His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we aim to strengthen women’s economic power by empowering a minimum of 10 million women by 2030,” She said.
The Minister explained that EmpowerHer rests on four key pillars: financial literacy, skills and capacity development, access to finance and access to markets.
A woman who understands how money works cannot be silent and silenced, and a woman who can manage her finances becomes a pillar of stability for her family, her community and her country, she added.
According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the initiative is powered through a strategic partnership with Kudimata Nigeria Ltd, “a leading financial inclusion platform that shares our core belief that knowledge is the first capital every woman must possess.”
She further revealed that the Happy Women’s Platform will serve as an aggregator for training opportunities, access to finance and business information.
“We are building a Nigeria where women are not waiting for permission to succeed. They are prepared, positioned and empowered to lead,” she affirmed.
In his goodwill message, Mr Kayode Akinade, Managing Director of Microvis Microfinance Bank, commended the initiative and pledged institutional support.
“We, as an institution we believe in women’s empowerment and youth. As an organisation, we founded a foundation five years ago, and we empower 1,500 women. So, we find this very laudable,” he said.
He announced that Microvis would reward outstanding participants, “We look forward to supporting the top successful one in this training, not just as a loan, but as a seed grant. The top ten in this programme, we will give them a seed grant,” Akinade added.
Responding, the Minister commended the bank’s leadership, noting, “When our men are leading the conversation of women’s economic empowerment, then we get to the destination quicker. Government can’t do it alone. We need the private sector.”
Similarly, Mrs Esther Obiekwe, Group Head for Retail, SME and Financial Inclusion at Novo Microfinance Bank, said: “This platform reminds us that knowledge truly empowers. The more financially literate we are, the more confident we become.”
She added that Novo Microfinance Bank is developing “financial solutions especially for women, designed to help you save, have access to credit, and grow your business with ease,” urging participants to “believe in yourself. Let your courage be your currency. Stay curious. Keep learning.”
Providing an overview of the partnership, Kathleen Erhimu, Founder of Kudimata, described the programme as “the foundation of a movement that gives women the knowledge and tools to manage their finances confidently, build sustainable livelihoods, and fully participate in the digital economy.”
“At Kudimata, we believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she stated.
The training session included lessons on money management, savings, loans and debt management, and investments, among other essential areas of financial literacy.
Participants expressed appreciation to the Minister and the Kudimata team for the initiative and pledged to apply the lessons learnt.
The EmpowerHer Programme, implemented in partnership with Kudimata Nigeria Ltd and supported by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, forms part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to place women at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation.