Ekiti State inaugurates World Bank-powered women empowerment programme

The government of Ekiti State inaugurated a multisectoral programme tagged “Nigeria For Women Programme Scale-Up,” NFWP-SU, in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday.

Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, who represented Governor Biodun Oyebanji, described NFWP-SU as a World Bank-assisted programme to institutionalise women affinity groups and other platforms for women’s economic empowerment for improved economic opportunities.

She revealed that the programme, which had taken off in six states of the federation, was aimed at empowering women through a strategic partnership between the Federal Government and the World Bank, with the ultimate goal of ensuring gender equality.

According to her: “The parent project tested the Women Affinity Group (WAG) model as a platform for addressing key constraints to women’s social and economic empowerment at the household and community levels, thereby addressing barriers to women’s prosperity and building social assets for women’s empowerment.

“There is widespread evidence that enhancing women’s financial inclusion would generate significant economic and societal benefits. By building assets, women can better respond to family needs. When a woman has access to and control of financial products and services, she contributes to not only her own well-being but also the well-being of her family.”

The NFWP-SU Coordinator in Ekiti State, Mrs Toyin Familoni, added that the state has made significant steps in ensuring gender balancing by promulgating laws that mainstream gender equality and remove discrimination against women.

To actualise the functionality of the programme, Familoni revealed that Governor Oyebanji had approved funding and provided accommodation for its operation, with three local governments earmarked as pilots to kickstart the project.