Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP)
642 women receive grants, as FG flags off NFWP project in Abia
[By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Abia women have started benefitting from the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) following the formal flag off of the project by the federal government in the State.
At the flag off of the NFWP, a collaboration between the federal government and the World Bank to improve the livelihood of women, 642 women from Isiala-Ngwa North, Ohafia and Obingwa local government received payments.
Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, who disclosed the number of beneficiaries at the launch, further said that Abia state has a total of 2,268 Women Affinity Groups, with a population of 49,920 members; while a total of 32,262 business plans have been approved and cleared for payment as disbursement would continue until all would have been cleared.
Represented by her Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Olusa Joseph, the Minister added that as at 9th of March, 2022, a total of 11,305 WAGs have been formed nationwide with a total membership of 240,717 women.
“The Federal Government has taken bold measures to request support from the World Bank to empower women and improve access to finance through livelihood grants to enable women meet specific life cycle needs,” the Minister said.
The National Project Coordinator of NFWP, Mrs. Ruth Peter Mshelia, said the project, an initiative of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the World Bank, was conceived “to proffer solutions to financial challenges facing rural women; and at the same time, providing the necessary capacity to help them for better livelihood.”
Mrs. Mshelia said that based on the success story of Abia, “the state was given approval for individual livelihood grants disbursement to 1,623 beneficiaries.”
Earlier in her welcome address, Abia state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Deacon Nna Rose Urenta, noted that the project was established in five states, including Abia, Ogun, Taraba, Niger and Kebbi and later, Akwa Ibom when Edo withdrew.
In her speech, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Planning Commission, Dr. Mrs. Nnenna Chikezie, said the project was aimed at upgrading the livelihood of women as they have been taught many skills to support themselves, adding “the pact and confidence the programme is building is enormous.”
After flagging off the disbursement, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, said the state government was determined and committed to improving the livelihood of women in the state, adding “this underscores the reason for embracing the NFWP with the deserved seriousness manifested by the release/payment of the first and second tranches of counterpart funds for the project.”
The Governor had in early February approved the release of N100 million to NFWP, to facilitate Abia’s participation in the project.
