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 Dipo Olowookere
The younger sister of the former Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, has been rescued by officials of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The woman was freed from her kidnappers along with her twin sons, Peter and Paul, on Saturday evening.
They were abducted on Wednesday morning while the former employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was taking her children to school in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred at about 7:30 am on June 3, 2026, throwing residents of the area into panic. The 43-year-old mother was taken from her vehicle by the gunmen and driven away with her 12-year-old twin sons.
This evening, in an operation by security operatives, the victims were rescued, while two of the suspected kidnappers were fatally shot in a gun duel, and two firearms were recovered from the gang.
The police are now combing the area where the rescue operation took place to apprehend some of the fleeing kidnappers, who are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.
The news of the rescue of the kidnapped victims has thrown the family of the former Minister into a frenzy.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government and the Honeywell Group are strengthening a partnership aimed at achieving sustainable development in Nigeria.
The company on Thursday held a meeting with the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja. Both parties explored ways to promote economic development, reaffirming the importance of public-private sector cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s development agenda and improving service delivery for citizens.
The Senior Adviser to the Honeywell Group, Mrs Oduwaye Nsidi-Sakiri, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting national development through constructive engagement and collaboration.
“We commend the remarkable progress that has been made. These achievements are a reflection not only of leadership but also of the dedication and hard work of the entire team within the Ministry,” she said.
She explained that the visit reflected Honeywell Group’s longstanding tradition of maintaining proactive and constructive relationships with government institutions, regulatory agencies, and other key public-sector stakeholders. She further expressed the group’s willingness to explore opportunities for collaboration in support of government initiatives and national development objectives.
Also speaking, Honeywell Group Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Tomi Ayo-Tugbo, commended the Ministry for reforms that are delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, reiterating the firm’s commitment to supporting the country’s growth and prosperity.
On his part, Mr Tunji-Ojo praised the company for its longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economy and acknowledged the critical role of the private sector in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting national development.
He further assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to engage with stakeholders and collaborate with responsible corporate organisations in advancing initiatives that promote economic development, innovation, and improved service delivery.
The Minister emphasised that the reforms being implemented across the Ministry and its agencies are designed not only to improve operational efficiency but also to strengthen national security and enhance public confidence in government institutions.
“Our goal is to build institutions that work efficiently for the people. We are committed to creating systems that are transparent, technology-driven, and capable of delivering services in a manner that reflects the aspirations of a modern Nigeria,” he stated.
“The government cannot achieve sustainable development alone. Strong partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to building a prosperous nation. We value organisations such as Honeywell Group that have consistently invested in Nigeria and contributed to the country’s growth over several decades,” Mr Tunji-Ojo added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has directed that no new public contracts should be awarded without first getting the funds, as part of efforts to improve project delivery across the country.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this on the sidelines of the Inaugural Hosting of The Procurement Evolution in Abuja on Thursday.
Mr Adedokun said President Bola Tinubu had approved measures to raise resources needed to settle outstanding obligations to contractors, describing timely payment as critical to an efficient procurement system.
“Mr President has given a directive on when funds should be raised to address the concerns of contractors who are yet to be paid. With this, procurement processes will be much better because payment is now tied to procurement.
“Meaning that no award will be further issued without resources or funding available. So these are the things that the President has asked us to do.”
The BPP boss said the government was also implementing 23 procurement reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and value for money in public spending.
According to him, committees to drive the reforms will soon be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
He said the reforms were designed to ensure that Nigerians benefit directly through improved infrastructure, healthcare, education and better living conditions.
“The president wants Nigerians to feel the effects of this transformation by having good roads, good hospitals, good educational institutions, and a good living wage for all workers.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, said public procurement remained central to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Akume noted that ongoing reforms, including proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Nigeria First Policy, Nigeria e-Marketplace initiative, community-based procurement and affirmative procurement programmes, were intended to strengthen local industries and promote economic inclusion.
The SGF, represented by Mr Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the SGF, added that the reforms would enhance transparency, simplify procurement processes and leverage technology to improve service delivery and national development.
“As we move forward, our collective responsibility is very clear.
“We must ensure that procurement processes are simplified. without compromising accountability, that technology is fully leveraged to eliminate inefficiencies and that all stakeholders work collaboratively to achieve shared national goals.
“The federal government remains fully committed to supporting the Bureau of Public Procurement in driving these reforms and ensuring that public procurement becomes a catalyst for economic growth, infrastructure development and improved quality of life for all our citizens.”
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