The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Nigeria for Women Project in partnership with the World Bank.
AMBusiness reports that the alliance aims to expand economic empowerment to more rural populations.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, made the announcement during a crucial meeting in Abuja on Thursday, which was attended by key partners such as the World Bank and UNICEF.
According to Kennedy-Ohanenye, the reform and expansion of the NFWP will have a significant influence on the lives of rural women by boosting economic empowerment and revenue production.
The minister stated that this program would provide a source of income, improving the living conditions of persons living in rural areas.
The World Bank Operations Manager in Nigeria, Taimur Samad, emphasized the critical importance of gender-based empowerment, emphasizing its significant presence in their portfolio.
“We are highly committed to delivering results, it has been a very important part of our engagement with states,” Samad said.
He stated that the majority of what is done in Nigeria is at the state level, and that there are plans to continue to collaborate at the federal level as well.
Furthermore, the UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, emphasized the NFWP’s successes in mobilizing large financial resources for the economic empowerment of women and girls across varied regions in Nigeria.
“This collaboration will be instrumental in improving women’s access to resources and support systems, women’s entrepreneurship, and stimulating women’s participation in business and the private sector.
“It also reflects the government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and is perfectly aligned with SDG 5, which is to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.
“So, hopefully, this will become a catalyst for gender equality, breaking barriers and fostering sustainable development in Nigeria,” he said.
