General
FG Targets 25 million Women in New National Programme Scale-up
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has launched the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), a strategic investment initiative which is expected to target over 25 million Nigerian women nationwide.
In a Friday statement, it was disclosed that President Bola Tinubu this week inaugurated the NFWP-SU programme, declaring the initiative a strategic national investment and unveiling the government’s ambition to expand its reach to over 25 million Nigerian women across the country.
According to the statement, the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the scale-up marks a decisive shift in Nigeria’s development strategy, with women’s economic empowerment, family stability, and social development placed firmly at the centre of national growth.
He stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable prosperity while half of its population remains structurally constrained.
“Women are not peripheral to national development. They are central drivers of productivity, custodians of family stability, and indispensable partners in our ambition to build a resilient, competitive and prosperous nation,” the President said, noting that empowering women is essential to job creation, food security, financial inclusion and economic diversification under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu described the programme as more than a social intervention, calling it “a strategic investment in Nigeria’s economic infrastructure.”
He said the success of Phase I of the programme, which reached over one million beneficiaries across six states, provided strong evidence that structured, data-driven empowerment models deliver measurable, lasting impact.
Building on that evidence, the President announced a bold national ambition to scale the programme beyond its current targets to reach 25 million women nationwide, creating a sustainable platform for women’s economic inclusion embedded in federal, state and local systems.
He called on development partners, particularly the World Bank, to support the expansion through financing, technical assistance and innovation.
According to the President, the integration of digital platforms such as the Happy Woman App, identity verification and transparent targeting reflects the administration’s insistence on measurable and verifiable public policy.
“The work of the Ministry has shown what focused execution can achieve. This is how public trust is rebuilt and how government resources reach real people with real impact,” he said.
On his part, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the Bank was honoured to co-finance the NFWP-SU with the Federal and State Governments, describing it as fully aligned with the Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria, which prioritises unlocking economic opportunities, strengthening private sector linkages and creating more and better jobs.
Mr Verghis noted that Nigerian women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, with 64.3 per cent living below the lower-middle-income poverty line, despite their critical contributions to agriculture, trade and enterprise.
He said the Women Affinity Group (WAG) model promoted under the programme has proven to be a powerful tool for lifting women out of poverty by enabling collective savings, access to credit, financial discipline and enterprise growth.
Citing examples from the field, he explained that over 28,000 WAGs currently empower about 600,000 women across Nigeria, allowing them to save together, lend responsibly, invest in businesses and transition into formal financial services.
He added that scaling such models could unlock enormous economic gains, noting estimates that reducing gender inequality could increase Nigeria’s annual GDP growth by more than 1.25 percentage points, while closing productivity gaps across key sectors could add nearly $23 billion to the economy.
“This is smart economics. When women thrive, communities grow stronger, and economies become more resilient,” Mr Verghis said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Robert S. Chase, World Bank Practice Manager for Social Protection and Jobs, described the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up as one of the most ambitious gender-focused social and economic interventions currently being implemented in Africa.
He said the programme reflects a strong partnership between Nigeria and the World Bank, anchored on evidence, innovation and a shared commitment to lifting millions of women out of poverty.
Mr Chase noted that the programme’s strength lies in its ability to build sustainable systems rather than short-term relief, particularly through the Women Affinity Groups model, which combines social capital, financial inclusion and access to productive opportunities.
According to him, the scale-up phase demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to institutionalise women’s empowerment as a core development strategy and not merely a welfare initiative.
The NFWP-SU Phase II is a $540 million programme, co-financed by the World Bank and the Federal and State Governments, expanding implementation to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It aims to directly reach five million women, generate about 4.5 million jobs, and benefit nearly 19.5 million Nigerians indirectly, while laying the groundwork for the broader expansion to 25 million women.
Under the leadership of Minister Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has positioned the programme as the centrepiece of wider social and economic reforms.
In Phase I alone, over 26,500 Women Affinity Groups were formed with more than 560,000 members, who collectively saved over N4.9 billion, expanded businesses, paid school fees and met household health needs.
The model has since attracted international interest, with other countries seeking to understudy Nigeria’s experience.
Beyond economic empowerment, the ministry has linked the programme to digital inclusion, civic identity, child protection and family welfare, while rolling out complementary initiatives in agribusiness, energy access, skills development and protection services.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The annual retreat for business managers and executives organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) will take place from April 16 to 18, 2026, at the AAE & T Hotel, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
This year’s edition is themed The Resilient Enterprise, People and Systems: Building and Managing Businesses that Outlive Seasons, Cycles and Crises.
The programme aims to equip leaders with the insights, tools, and networks required to build resilient organisations in an increasingly complex business environment.
It will provide a unique platform for executive-level engagement through high-level conversations, peer learning sessions with experienced leaders, strategy reflection workshops, and curated networking opportunities.
Expected to attend are industry leaders, senior executives, and business managers from across sectors. They will explore strategies for sustaining organisational performance through leadership transitions, economic cycles, regulatory shifts, and market disruptions.
Participants will also benefit from interactive discussions focused on strengthening corporate governance, developing agile leadership capabilities, and building organisational systems that can withstand periods of uncertainty and transformation.
A notice from NECA said the event is open to both members and non-members, with participation fees set at N300,000 for members and N320,000 for non-members. Discounts will also be available for Gold and Silver members, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
Interested participants are encouraged to register via the official registration link to secure their place at the retreat, which promises to deliver valuable insights and connections for executives seeking to build enterprises capable of thriving through seasons of change and uncertainty.
The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, noted that by convening business managers and senior executives in a collaborative learning environment, the association aims to contribute to the development of stronger, future-ready enterprises that can drive economic growth, create jobs, and support national development even in the face of evolving global and local challenges.
He added that the retreat will provide executives with the opportunity to step away from daily operational demands and engage in deeper strategic conversations with peers and industry experts.
“The theme of this year’s retreat speaks directly to the realities businesses face today. Across sectors, organisations are navigating leadership transitions, regulatory shifts, economic pressures, and technological disruption.
“What distinguishes enduring enterprises is their ability to build strong systems, develop capable leaders, and create organisational cultures that can adapt and respond effectively to change,” the NECA chief said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In further demonstration of its unwavering commitment to its workforce, Nigeria’s foremost power generation company, Egbin Power Plc, has unveiled 80 new residential housing units for employees within its plant premises in Egbin, Lagos State.
This comprises 40 fully furnished three-bedroom apartments and 40 furnished studio apartments, all designed to contemporary standards.
The units feature modern infrastructure and thoughtfully planned utilities, creating a safe, comfortable, and conducive living environment that supports both employee productivity and family well-being.
This strategic investment underscores the company’s philosophy that a well-supported workforce is fundamental to sustained operational excellence.
The new housing units are part of a holistic strategy to cultivate a stable, motivated, and future-ready workforce.
This strategy extends beyond infrastructure to encompass robust career development and recognition. Over the past three years, Egbin Power has promoted 112 employees across various cadres, reinforcing a culture that rewards merit, performance, and long-term dedication
“At Egbin Power, our people are our most valuable asset. Even amidst the prevailing liquidity and operational realities within the broader power sector, our focus on employee welfare has remained deliberate and consistent.
“This significant expansion of our residential estate is a tangible expression of that commitment.
“It is one of several key initiatives aimed at ensuring our employees feel genuinely supported, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally,” the chief executive of Egbin Power, Mr Mokhtar Bounour, said.
Initiated in 2025 and completed in January 2026, this project is the latest milestone in Egbin Power’s structured and ongoing approach to enhancing employee welfare. It reflects the energy firm’s dedication to fostering a culture where every team member feels valued, secure, and motivated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Nigerian Exchange Group House in Lagos, the role of capital markets in promoting gender equality will be reemphasised through the closing gong ceremony in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.
The ceremony is part of the global Ring the Bell for Gender Equality campaign, which mobilises stock exchanges worldwide to expand women’s participation in the economy and advance gender-inclusive practices.
In Nigeria, the NGX Group is partnering with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) to make it memorable under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
Dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the First Lady of Imo State, Mrs Chioma Uzodimma; the Executive Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Frana Chukwuogor; foremost actor, Ms Funke Akindele; a Director at the NGX Group, Ms Ojinnika Olaghere; and another staffer of NGX Group, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdulrahman, alongside board members of NGX Group, regulators, capital market stakeholders, and industry leaders.
NGX Group is joining other exchanges worldwide in sounding the NGX Gong to underscore the importance of inclusive leadership, equal opportunities, and stronger market accountability in advancing gender equality.
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