The Federal Government has inaugurated the Federal Technical Committee (FTC) for the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP–SU), marking a renewed commitment to women’s economic empowerment nationwide.
Presiding over the event, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, described the inauguration as “the activation of a national machinery for change,” aimed at expanding one of Nigeria’s most successful women-focused development programmes.
She highlighted the achievements of the first phase (2018–2024), which reached over 460,000 women, formed 22,000 Women Affinity Groups, and mobilized more than ₦4.4 billion in collective savings. The scale-up, approved in June 2024, will extend the programme to all states and integrate financial inclusion, livelihood support, and social protection into a unified national framework, turning Women Affinity Groups into sustainable economic institutions linked to markets and formal finance.
Dr. Keshinro emphasized persistent gender disparities, noting that 70 percent of Nigerian women remain extremely poor, only 10 percent have land access, and women earn 45–50 percent less than men. She stressed that the programme aligns with the National Women Economic Empowerment Policy and the World Bank’s Global Crises Response Framework, supporting food security, climate adaptation, and improved livelihoods.
The Federal Technical Committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Education, Water Resources, Health and Social Welfare, Communications and Digital Economy, Trade and Investments, Agriculture, Environment, and Finance, ensuring technical expertise and inter-ministerial coordination for effective programme implementation.
Dr. Hadiza Maina, National Project Coordinator, said the scale-up is introducing enhanced digital tools for real-time monitoring, strengthened livelihood support, and greater community engagement.
“Our goal is not just to see women benefit economically. We want them to become part of a resilient network capable of withstanding shocks, supporting household welfare, and contributing meaningfully to the local and national economy,” she said, adding that climate-smart agriculture, digital financial literacy, and small-enterprise development are prioritized amid rising economic and climate pressures.
Representing the World Bank, Dr. Yetunde Fatogun commended the Federal Government, saying, “This expansion comes at a crucial moment. Global economic uncertainties and climate shocks disproportionately affect women.
The NFWP–SU is a timely and strategic response.” She stressed that collaboration among federal and state institutions, development partners, and civil society is essential to reach the most vulnerable women.
Closing the ceremony, Dr. Keshinro charged committee members to bring expertise, dedication, and urgency to the national assignment, officially inaugurating the FTC and setting in motion the next chapter of Nigeria’s most ambitious women’s empowerment programme.
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