The Katsina State Government has committed ₦8 billion to expand the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP) to all 34 local government areas of the state, targeting 41,000 women affinity groups for economic empowerment.
Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe disclosed this on Thursday while representing Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Presidential Launch of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
He explained that although the World Bank is supporting implementation in three local government areas with ₦500 million counterpart funding from the state, the government paid an additional ₦4 billion to extend the programme to the remaining 31 local government areas. Another ₦4 billion, he said, has been appropriated in the approved 2026 budget to increase the number of beneficiaries.
According to him, the three World Bank-supported local government areas—Katsina, Daura and Funtua—will have 10,000 Women Affinity Groups, while the other 31 local government areas will each have 1,000 groups, bringing the total to 41,000 groups statewide.
“The State Government took a deliberate decision to scale up the NFWP model statewide using the World Bank-approved implementation strategies to ensure consistency, transparency and sustainability,” the Deputy Governor said.
He noted that the programme focuses on improving the livelihoods of vulnerable women through collective action, financial inclusion, skills development and access to productive assets.
Malam Lawal emphasised that empowering women contributes to reducing insecurity and social vulnerability, as economically stable women are better positioned to nurture their children, promote education and strengthen peace within their communities.
He added that the state government is deliberately linking the Women Affinity Groups to the Katsina State Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee affordable healthcare for participating women and their households.
“By reducing out-of-pocket health expenditures, women can reinvest more of their income into productive activities, nutrition and education, thereby strengthening household resilience,” he said.
The Deputy Governor described the integrated approach—combining livelihoods, health insurance, education support and community ownership—as sustainable and impactful.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the World Bank for their partnership, reaffirming Katsina State’s commitment to deepening the impact of the programme.
“Empowering women is not only a social intervention; it is a strategic investment in security, economic stability and national development,” he added.
