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| Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun |
The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and the World Bank, has officially launched the disbursement of a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund (CIF) to 3,855 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across the state.
Implemented under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), the milestone financial initiative is structured to transition women-led micro-enterprises from subsistence operations into sustainable commercial businesses, strengthening household financial security and fueling economic growth across rural communities.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held at the Awujale Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun—represented by the former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye—emphasized that the ₦6bn fund is designed as a revolving financing facility rather than a grant. This strategic structure ensures that capital remains accessible to women entrepreneurs over time, encouraging long-term enterprise growth, employment generation, and sustainable poverty reduction across the state.
The governor praised the high level of financial discipline displayed by the participating affinity groups. He disclosed that beneficiary women have collectively saved ₦2.6 billion over the past seven months while accessing more than ₦4 billion through internal peer-lending structures.
According to Governor Abiodun, these figures offer concrete proof of the trust, organizational capacity, and creditworthiness cultivated within the WAG ecosystem, which equips members with vital training in financial literacy, business management, and collective accountability.
The Nigeria for Women Project originally debuted in Ogun State in December 2020 following an agreement between the Federal Government and the World Bank. During its initial pilot phase, the project established 3,792 WAGs across 1,003 communities in four local government areas—Odeda, Ikenne, Ijebu North-East, and Yewa North—deploying 368 Ward Facilitators and awarding individual grants to 67,094 women.
Under the current Scale-Up phase, the intervention expanded into seven additional LGAs, including Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Abeokuta North, Ipokia, and Remo North.
As of September 2026, the expanded program covers 3,489 communities supported by 664 trained facilitators, reaching 124,062 women organized into 5,394 affinity groups. Owing to its successful execution, Ogun State has become an official learning hub, drawing delegates from 26 other Nigerian states and the World Bank to study its operational framework.
Representatives from key partner institutions commended the state's execution. The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (represented by Jummaih Idonije), noted that the initiative directly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda by driving inclusive national economic development.
World Bank Task Team Manager Michael Ilesanmi added that bridging access to capital builds vital economic resilience among women. Beneficiaries—including group leaders from Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Abeokuta North—pledged to deploy the funds into productive trade, agriculture, and artisan ventures while maintaining strict record-keeping and savings practices.