KATSINA — Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Sunday launch the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Katsina State, with a Community Investment Fund targeting 57,432 women in Daura and Funtua Local Government Areas.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, disclosed this at a press conference ahead of the launch.
She said the fund would provide direct financial support to women, particularly those from poor and vulnerable households, as part of efforts to expand their economic participation.
Under the programme, beneficiaries will be organised into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), through which they will build savings, access financial and non-financial services, strengthen their businesses and connect to markets.
The World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Programme, Michael Ilesanmi, said the initiative was open to all eligible women aged 18 and above in the implementing communities.
He said the programme was designed to be inclusive, including women with disabilities, who he said were already participating in the initiative in Katsina State.
Ilesanmi said participation in the affinity groups would enable women to build social capital that could improve their access to financial, economic and civic opportunities.
The launch is expected to bring together federal and state government officials, development partners, women’s groups and other stakeholders as Katsina begins implementation of the expanded programme.
