The Ondo State Government has commenced advocacy activities for the expansion of the World Bank-assisted Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), with more than 90,000 additional women expected to benefit from the programme across three newly included local government areas.
The advocacy exercise commenced on Monday in Ifedore Local Government Area and was led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Oluwaseun Bosede Osamaye.
The programme is aimed at mobilising grassroots support for the Women Affinity Group (WAG) component of the NFWP-SU, which seeks to improve women’s economic opportunities through organised savings groups, entrepreneurship, access to finance, skills development, markets and social support.
Speaking during an engagement with the local government leadership and other stakeholders, Osamaye described the inclusion of Ifedore as a significant step towards extending economic empowerment opportunities to women, particularly those in rural and peri-urban communities.
The State Project Coordinator, Dr Jumoke Bakare, said structures including a Local Government Desk Office, Local Project Implementation Unit and Women Affinity Group Savings Officers would be established to facilitate the implementation of the programme.
Bakare stressed the importance of collaboration between the Ministry, local government authorities, project officials and community stakeholders to ensure that the initiative delivers sustainable economic opportunities to women.
