The Katsina State Government has released N8.5 billion as counterpart funding for the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, targeting at least 800,000 women across the state.
The Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader, Mr Michael Ilesanmi, who disclosed this in Katsina explained that the N8.5 billion represented actual funds released by the state government over the past two years, rather than a budgetary provision.
He also revealed that the World Bank would provide an additional 15 million dollars to support implementation of the programme in the state.
READ ALSO: Nigeria for Women Programme Targets 4 Million Beneficiaries
The Task Team Leader further stated that the programme was designed to mobilise poor and vulnerable women into affinity groups and connect them to finance, markets and productive opportunities.
He noted that the state government’s financial commitment had enabled the programme to expand from six proposed pilot Local Government Areas to all 34 LGAs.
“The expansion would raise the number of beneficiaries from the initial projection of 150,000 women to at least 800,000,” Ilesanmi said.
He explained that the programme would strengthen women’s financial inclusion through financial literacy, planning, savings mobilisation and partnerships with financial service providers.
Ilesanmi commended the Katsina State Government for taking ownership of the intervention and expanding its reach, describing the state as a flagship for the Nigeria for Women Programme because of its commitment.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu-Malumfashi, announced that disbursement of the Community Investment Fund would commence today, October 4, 2026.
Aminu-Malumfashi explained that the programme began as a pilot in Katsina, Funtua and Daura Local Government Areas before expanding to other parts of the state.
She noted that beneficiaries were organised into Women Affinity Groups of 25 members and trained in savings, financial literacy and enterprise development.
The commissioner said the Community Investment Fund would enable the groups to invest in economic activities, strengthen their livelihoods and improve household economic resilience.
