Gombe Trains Women Recruited In NFWP-SU Empowerment Programme

The Gombe State government has commenced training for women recruited into the empowerment programme 'Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), a World Bank-assisted initiative aimed at empowering women economically.

During the opening of a three- days orientation training for the newly recruited State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU) and Local Project Implementing Units (LPIUs) staff of the project organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Gombe State office of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, the commissioner of the ministry, Asma'u Iganus, disclosed that the beneficiaries would be trained on agriculture, trade and finance, equipping them with financial discipline and empowering them to become agents of change in their communities.

According to the commissioner, the programme was designed to empower women through the formation of Women's Affinity Groups (WAGs), which would enable them to save funds and grant loans to their members for business purposes.

She explained that the WAGs would be federated into sustainable economic institutions, linking them to formal markets and finance.

Commissioner Iganus further stated that the programme would focus on sectors like agriculture, with emphasis on cassava, rice, and oil palm production, as well as tailoring and other income-generating activities.

"Our goal is to improve the livelihoods of millions of women in Gombe State, and we are committed to ensuring that they have access to the resources and support they need to succeed," she said.

State project coordinator, Hauwa Adamu Saraki, explained that the initiative is a five-year project, targeting 3,600 groups in the state in the first phase, with Balanga, Funakaye and Yamaltu-Deba local governments benefiting.

"The programme is open to women from 18 years and above, and it is aimed at enhancing their economic well-being," she said.

Saraki added that the NFWP-SU has already shown promising results in its pilot phase in collective savings and supporting numerous women across six states.

"We are scaling up this initiative to reach more women across the country, and Gombe State is proud to be part of it," she said.

The NFWP-SU, a $500 million World Bank-funded project, aims to reach approximately 4 million women nationwide by 2028, providing them with access to financial services, digital literacy and formal banking connections, as well as grants and technical assistance for income-generating activities.