From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
No fewer than 57,432 women in Katsina State are expected to receive direct financial support under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU).
The intervention, which will benefit women in Daura and Funtua Local Government Areas, is designed to expand economic opportunities, strengthen livelihoods and reduce poverty among poor and vulnerable households.
Addressing journalists in Katsina on Saturday evening, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aishatu Aminu Malumfashi, said Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to visit the state on Sunday for the launch of the programme.
Malumfashi described the initiative as a transformative programme that would deepen women’s participation in economic activities through direct financial assistance and community-based support structures.
Under the programme, beneficiaries will be organised into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), where they will build savings, access financial and non-financial services, strengthen their businesses and connect to wider markets.
Earlier, the World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Programme, Michael Ilesanmi, said every eligible woman aged 18 years and above, including persons with disabilities, is eligible to benefit from the programme.
He explained that the programme would equip women with financial literacy and enterprise development skills while improving their access to finance, markets and productive opportunities.
According to him, the initiative would also help beneficiaries overcome social barriers that limit women’s participation in economic activities.
Ilesanmi added that the project would strengthen women’s resilience to climate change by supporting sustainable livelihood activities 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 disclosed that the state government had committed more than N8.5 billion in counterpart funding over the past two years, with additional funding already earmarked in the next budget.
According to him, the expanded programme is expected to reach nearly 800,000 women across Katsina State, making it one of the largest women-focused economic empowerment initiatives in the country.
