The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming rural women into economically empowered entrepreneurs and strengthening grassroots livelihoods, as the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, inspected the implementation of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The Minister, who undertook the field visit to assess the impact of the programme and interact directly with beneficiaries, commended the Taraba State Government, World Bank, State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU), Local Government Councils, traditional institutions and community leaders for their collaboration in advancing women’s economic empowerment.
She said the visit was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that investments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda translate into measurable improvements in the lives of women at the grassroots.
“This visit is about seeing the impact on the ground, listening to our women and ensuring that the resources of the Federal Government are reaching the people they are intended to serve. We are here to monitor progress, evaluate results and strengthen what is working,” the Minister said.
According to her, the achievements recorded under the Nigeria for Women Project and its Scale-Up component demonstrate the transformative power of organising women into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), providing them with financial resources, building their capacity and connecting them to sustainable economic opportunities.
The programme has so far empowered more than 162,445 women, established over 6,900 Women Affinity Groups, disbursed ₦3.548 billion in livelihood grants, and mobilised over ₦2.388 billion in savings among participating women.
The Minister disclosed that 40 processing centres had been established across three Local Government Areas in Taraba State, comprising 26 groundnut, 13 rice and one oil-palm processing centres, describing the facilities as critical platforms for moving women from subsistence production to value addition, commercial agriculture and competitive markets.
“These processing hubs are not just buildings or machines; they represent economic opportunities. They provide the pathway for our women to move from primary production to value addition, create jobs, increase productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s food and agricultural value chains,” she stated.
She also commended the women for their financial discipline, noting that livelihood grants ranging from ₦30,000 to ₦60,000 had been disbursed to thousands of beneficiaries, while members had independently mobilised substantial savings through their groups.
The Minister urged beneficiaries to maintain proper financial records, transparency and accountability in managing their grants and collective assets, stressing that prudent financial management would enhance their ability to attract larger investments and participate effectively in commercial markets.
She further highlighted the climate-smart component of the programme, commending 170 women master trainers who had been trained in briquette production and were cascading the knowledge to other members across the WAGs.
According to her, the initiative provides an opportunity for women to participate in green enterprises while contributing to environmental sustainability and the transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
The Minister also disclosed that the NFWP-SU had recorded significant progress in grassroots mobilisation, with 3,604 WAGs established during the pilot phase and an additional 3,296 groups under the Scale-Up, bringing the total number of active groups to more than 6,900.
She noted that 85,842 women had been empowered during the pilot phase, exceeding the original target of 54,000, while the Scale-Up had already mobilised 76,603 additional women through the newly established groups.
Beyond economic empowerment, the Minister said the programme was delivering tangible social benefits, including the enrolment of 2,500 women into the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to access free healthcare.
She also commended beneficiaries for deploying their social emergency funds to support community healthcare needs, including the provision of hospital beds and clean water facilities.
“The strength of NFWP-SU is that it goes beyond giving women money. It builds financial discipline, enterprise capacity, digital skills, social protection and community resilience. Our women are proving that when they are trusted, organised and equipped with the right opportunities, they can transform not only their households but entire communities,” she said.
The Minister called on the Taraba State Government, private-sector investors and financial institutions to deepen partnerships around the 40 processing hubs and other women-led enterprises in order to expand market access, create jobs, strengthen food security and unlock greater economic opportunities.
She equally encouraged existing WAG members to mentor women in newly incorporated Local Government Areas, maintain regular savings, embrace digital literacy and transition into structured Livelihood Collectives capable of accessing higher-level grants and commercial markets.
Reaffirming her Ministry’s commitment to inclusive development, Hajiya Imaan said the Federal Government would continue to prioritise women at the grassroots as key drivers of economic growth and social transformation.
“We will leave no woman behind. Our commitment is to ensure that every woman, regardless of where she lives, has an opportunity to participate meaningfully in the economy. The women of Taraba are showing us what is possible when inclusion, finance, skills and collective action come together,” she affirmed.
The Minister’s field visit featured interactions with beneficiaries, inspection of livelihood and processing activities, engagement with community stakeholders and assessment of the impact of NFWP-SU interventions at the grassroots.
The visit underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen women’s economic inclusion, expand access to finance and markets, promote social protection and build resilient communities in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs. Mary Sinjen, FCNA, ACTI, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for prioritising Taraba State in the assessment visit.
The Commissioner, who represented the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, said the state was fully aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on women’s economic empowerment as a catalyst for peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
She described the NFWP-SU intervention as a major catalyst for transforming women from subsistence-level operators into viable commercial agricultural entrepreneurs.
“The transition into the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up has breathed new life into our local communities, moving our women from basic subsistence livelihoods into viable, commercial-scale agricultural business owners,” Mrs. Sinjen said.
She noted that the 40 Livelihood Collectives in Taraba State demonstrated what could be achieved when rural women were trusted with resources, equipped with financial literacy and organised into effective affinity groups.
The Commissioner commended the women of Zing and other participating communities for their resilience, hard work and commitment to the success of the programme, assuring the Federal Government of the state’s continued partnership.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Information Press and Public Relations Dept.
(FMWASD)
