Efforts by the Niger State Government to empower over 75,000 women across the state have received a boost, with the approval of N1 billion in counterpart funds by State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago as a matching grant under the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a World Bank initiative aimed at enhancing women’s livelihoods.
The Governor’s approval fulfills his pledge to empower more women for grassroots development, made during his visit to the Hazaka Women Affinity Group in Tufa Community, Gurara Local Government Area earlier this year.
The project includes the construction of 41 collective centers to serve as processing mills for the over 75,000 women registered under various Affinity Groups across Gurara, Agaie, and Wushishi Local Government Areas.
Progress on these centers varies, with 32 designated for rice processing, 8 for groundnut processing, and 1 for shea butter.
Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Bago, Sadiq Yusuf, and State Project Coordinator for the Nigeria for Women Project, Bello Sarki, inspected ongoing construction in the benefiting local government areas to ensure completion before the expected launch.
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Upon completion, these centers are expected to promote women’s independence, improve their economic status, and contribute to food security.
A press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Bologi Ibrahim, mentioned that the Governor has instructed the Ministries of Education and Humanitarian Affairs to purchase the women’s processed products for school feeding programs and other humanitarian services.
“The collaboration between the government and the World Bank aims to unify women, enhance their social and economic viability and independence, support their households, ensure food security, and promote the formation of cooperatives and savings groups among them,” the statement concluded.
