By Miracle Okoro, Abeokuta
Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele has described the success story recorded by the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) as a model for other states , while advocating for more women empowerment programmes aimed at improving the lives of women, as well as contributing to socio- economic prosperity of the state and nation at large.
The Deputy Governor, stated these while playing host to Zamfara State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradu, her Katsina counterpart, Hon. Hadiza Abubakar Yaradua, representative of Jigawa state Commissioner, Aisha Abubakar and their entourage, in her office, who were in the state for a scale-up peer learning visit.
She explained that as part of efforts to make life more meaningful for women in the state, Governor Dapo Abiodun embarked on women empowerment programmes known as 'Oko' wo Dapo' where women were empowered financially to start businesses. she stated that the NFWP has really served as a guide and eye opener towards giving micro and small business owners the needed skills and training on ways to use the money judiciously.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele further stated that the programme had given the women, the orientation on saving and how to invest their money, while adding that penetrating the communities through the established community leaders was another good thing about the project, as the community leaders took ownership of it and supported the women to fully participate.
"We came in 2019 just as the project was starting off, the administration before us had a paperwork but we started the implementation and i want to commend the project coordinator in the state. We started with six states in Nigeria, while 3 local governments in each state participated. As soon as the programme started in Ogun State, the state came out tops and the world bank team said Ogun was a prime mover state. Of course, this was due to the commitment of the team and the leadership, through the governor, who supported the project and ensured that they had everything needed to make it a success" she said
According to her ‘’what we realised as a government was that this is the way to go. So, before we even thought to scale up NFWP, we had already scaled up Oko'wo Dapo which mirrored the NFWP and covered the other 17 local governments of our state, which was not covered by NFWP"
The Deputy Governor said the enthusiasm with which women supported the programme was encouraging, recalling that some of the women affinity groups were ready to turn themselves into micro finance organisations because they do not only have a financial literacy but have money to borrow other women. She revealled that the programme gave women better understanding of their businesses, how to manage profit and loss and supply chain.
In her remarks, Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adeleye Adijat noted that NFWP was a success story in the state due to the achievements recorded as one of the pioneer states that keyed into the idea, saying that was why other states were coming to Ogun to learn how it was successfully carried out.
According to the Commissioner, 'this is the first time we will be having three states coming to understudy at the same time. We have had two states in two batches before, but this time we are having three states and since few days ago, we have been training them on how the programme can be successfully implemented in their various states'
Also speaking the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Zamfara, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun and her counterpart from Katsina, Hon. Zainab Musa Musawa, congratulated Ogun for the successful conduct of the project, saying it serves as an inspiration for other states to tap from.
They both agreed that they have learnt a lot from Ogun, describing the project as one that would not only empower women but also have a great impact on the society, while expressing optimism that one day their states would also receive other states and share their own success story.
The commissioners however appreciated the Ogun state government and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development for her warm reception and hospitality since they arrived, saying the people of Ogun were very accommodating.
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