Shettima to Launch Women’s Programme as 57,432 Katsina Women Get Support

ABUJA, Nigeria — Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to launch the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) in Katsina State on Sunday, with 57,432 women set to receive financial support through the Community Investment Fund.

The programme will initially target women in Daura and Funtua Local Government Areas. It aims to expand economic opportunities, strengthen livelihoods and reduce poverty among vulnerable households.

The Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, disclosed this while briefing journalists ahead of the launch.

She said the initiative would increase women’s participation in economic activities through financial support and community-based structures.

How the Nigeria for Women Programme Works

Under the programme, beneficiaries will join Women Affinity Groups. The groups will help women build savings, access financial and non-financial services, strengthen their businesses and connect with wider markets.

Michael Ilesanmi, World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Programme, said women aged 18 and above, including persons with disabilities, would be eligible, subject to the programme’s criteria.

He said beneficiaries would receive training in financial literacy and enterprise development.

They will also gain improved access to finance, markets and productive opportunities. According to Ilesanmi, the programme will support livelihoods that can help women and households become more resilient to climate change.

Katsina Expands Programme to 34 LGAs

Ilesanmi commended the Katsina State Government for expanding the programme from six local government areas to all 34 LGAs.

He said the state government had committed more than N8.5 billion in counterpart funding over the past two years. Additional funding has also been earmarked in the next budget, he added.

The expanded programme is expected to reach nearly 800,000 women across Katsina State.

Federal Government, World Bank Partner on Programme

The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is being implemented through a partnership involving the Federal Government, Katsina State Government, the World Bank, financial institutions, communities, women’s groups and other development partners.

The launch is expected to bring together government officials, development partners, women’s organisations and other stakeholders. The event will formally commence the next phase of the programme in Katsina State.

About the Author

Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian is a Nigerian journalist and editor at Africa Health Report (AHR), with more than a decade of experience covering health, development, humanitarian issues and public-interest affairs across Nigeria and Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has additional training in data analytics, combining evidence-driven reporting with compelling human-centred storytelling. Her work examines the intersection of health, policy, economics, technology and social change, with a particular interest in how global decisions and emerging challenges affect communities across Africa. Her journalism has received professional recognition, including a Nestlé Award nomination for human-interest reporting. Follow her on X @mirian_linus.

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