Thousands of women entrepreneurs in Ogun State have begun receiving support under a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund designed to strengthen small businesses, increase household incomes and promote financial inclusion.
The fund, being implemented through a partnership involving the Ogun State Government, the Federal Government and the World Bank, is targeted at 3,855 Women Affinity Groups operating across participating local government areas under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up initiative.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ijebu-Ode, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, described the intervention as a strategic investment in women’s economic development. He said the programme is intended to help beneficiaries transition from subsistence-level activities into sustainable enterprises capable of creating long-term prosperity for families and communities.
Abiodun noted that participating groups had already demonstrated strong financial discipline by collectively saving ₦2.6 billion within seven months and accessing more than ₦4 billion in loans. According to him, the achievements justified the decision to expand financial support to women-led groups across the state.
The governor stressed that the investment fund should not be viewed as a grant but as a revolving financing mechanism designed to promote accountability, business growth and continuous access to capital for beneficiaries.
Officials disclosed that the programme has recorded significant expansion since its launch. The scale-up phase now covers seven local government areas, with 5,394 women groups established and a total of 124,062 women participating in various economic and social empowerment activities.
Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Princess Jummaih Idonije said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote women’s inclusion in economic development. She noted that empowering women financially contributes directly to poverty reduction, job creation and community stability.
Beneficiaries welcomed the intervention, pledging to utilise the funds responsibly and sustain the culture of savings, accountability and collective enterprise that has driven the programme’s success.
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is one of several initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs, improving access to finance and strengthening grassroots economic development across participating states. As implementation progresses, stakeholders hope the revolving fund will create lasting impacts on livelihoods and local economies while fostering greater financial independence among women.
