Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to launch the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Katsina State on Sunday, with 57,432 women expected to receive direct financial support.
The intervention, under the Community Investment Fund (CIF), will initially target women in Daura and Funtua Local Government Areas.
The programme is aimed at expanding economic opportunities, strengthening livelihoods and reducing poverty among poor and vulnerable households.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the launch, Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, described the initiative as a transformative programme designed to increase women’s participation in economic activities.
She said beneficiaries would be organised into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), enabling them to build savings, access financial and non-financial services, strengthen their businesses and connect with wider markets.
World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Programme, Michael Ilesanmi, said the initiative was designed to be inclusive.
He said every eligible woman aged 18 and above, including persons with disabilities, could participate.
According to Ilesanmi, the programme will provide women with financial literacy, enterprise development skills and improved access to finance, markets and productive opportunities.
He added that the initiative would also help women overcome social barriers limiting their participation in economic activities.
Ilesanmi said the programme would strengthen women’s resilience to climate change by supporting sustainable livelihoods capable of generating income and improving household welfare.
He commended the Katsina State Government for expanding the programme from an initial six local government areas to all 34 LGAs.
He said the state government had committed more than ₦8.5 billion in counterpart funding over the past two years, with additional funding earmarked in the next budget.
The World Bank official said the expanded programme was expected to reach nearly 800,000 women across Katsina State.
The programme is being implemented through a partnership involving the Federal Government, Katsina State Government, the World Bank, financial institutions, communities, women’s groups and other development partners.
The launch is expected to bring together government officials, development partners, women’s organisations and other stakeholders to formally commence the next phase of the programme.
