By Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) to all 34 Local Government Areas of the state as the World Bank moves to provide between $6 million and $8 million in additional funding to accelerate implementation.
The governor also unveiled plans to introduce a complementary “Nigeria for Men” initiative aimed at promoting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, economic self-reliance, and community development.
Governor Radda disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Nigeria for Women Project at the Katsina State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Kaula, Radda said the Katsina State Government had already committed N4 billion as counterpart funding, stressing that women’s economic empowerment remains a key strategy for reducing poverty, improving household incomes, strengthening community resilience, and addressing insecurity.
He expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation despite the state’s early fulfillment of its counterpart funding obligations.
“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,” the governor said.
Radda reiterated his administration’s resolve to expand the project beyond the initial three benefiting local government areas to all 34 LGAs, noting that wider coverage would significantly improve living standards and enhance security.
He observed that the state’s security challenges, which have displaced many families and left women vulnerable, make the project critical to rebuilding livelihoods and restoring dignity.
The governor commended participating women for embracing the Affinity Group model, revealing that they had mobilised about N192 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 added.
Radda further disclosed that the success of the women’s groups had inspired similar initiatives among men, leading to plans for a state-funded “Nigeria for Men” programme to promote discipline, entrepreneurship, and collective responsibility among young people.
He added that beyond its economic benefits, the programme is improving education, nutrition, healthcare, family welfare, and social cohesion across communities.
While expressing satisfaction with the project’s design and early achievements, the governor called for faster implementation to enable beneficiaries to enjoy its full benefits.
Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim Suleiman, commended Governor Radda’s leadership, describing Katsina as a national model for implementing the Nigeria for Women Project.
She disclosed that implementation challenges had been resolved and announced that between $6 million and $8 million would be front-loaded to Katsina to support the project’s expansion across the state.
The minister also revealed plans to pursue an additional $1.5 billion in financing for the programme nationwide, noting its significant social and economic impact.
She assured the state of continued technical support from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and development partners, adding that Katsina could soon become a learning centre for other states.
According to her, the programme targets 10 million Nigerian women, with about 4.5 million already benefiting.
Also speaking, the Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, said the project has 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 batch of beneficiaries would qualify by October.
In his remarks, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Project, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, described Katsina as one of the leading states in the programme’s implementation.
The World Bank delegation also highlighted the project’s broader impact, including improved maternal and child health, increased school enrolment, enhanced agricultural productivity, and better access to healthcare, while encouraging the state to link beneficiaries with the State Health Insurance Scheme.