Ogun State Launches Ambitious Initiative to Empower Women
The Ogun State Government has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering 105,000 women through improved access to financial support, skills acquisition, and social capital. This initiative, known as the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, is designed to transform the lives of women in the state by providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive economically.
The project will target four local government areas: Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, and Ado-Odo/Ota. The initiative was officially launched during a kick-off ceremony held in Akute, Ifo Local Government Area. At the event, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, outlined the structure of the program, which will be driven by 420 Ward Facilitators. Each facilitator will be responsible for forming 10 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), creating a network of 4,200 groups across the participating LGAs.
Each WAG is a non-political group consisting of 25 women. These groups are intended to provide a safe and transparent platform where members can learn about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, savings, and investment. According to Adeleye, these groups are not just gatherings but essential spaces for women to connect, grow, and succeed together.
“For many unbanked women, this will serve as their first connection to the formal economy — a veritable platform to save together, grow together, and rise together,” she said.
Adeleye noted that this phase builds on the success of the first implementation in Odeda, Yewa North, Ijebu North-East, and Ikenne LGAs. The initial phase received praise from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other state delegations. She credited the success of the first phase to the dedication of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser Dapo Okubadejo, and the State Project Coordinating Unit led by Mrs Bolanle Fadairo, whom she described as “the true champions of grassroots transformation.”
Adeleye called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and grassroots stakeholders to support the project and urged women to embrace the opportunity fully. She emphasized that the Scale-Up Project is not just a government program but a movement to institutionalize women’s economic empowerment across the Gateway State.
Expanding the Vision
In her remarks, the State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Mrs Bolanle Fadairo, explained that the first phase of the project was implemented across four LGAs — Ikenne, Ijebu North-East, Odeda, and Yewa North — as part of a Federal Government initiative executed in six pilot states to promote women’s economic empowerment through structured support systems.
According to her, the scale-up phase involves intensive training for facilitators and the formation of WAGs comprising 25 women each, working collectively to build financial strength and improve livelihoods.
“The aim is for these women to rise together, scale up together, and sustain their growth through shared learning, savings, and enterprise support,” she said.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of Akute Central Community Development Council, Mrs Moradeun Ogundele, commended the initiative, noting that it would improve the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries while promoting financial independence at the grassroots.
A History of Empowerment
Recall that in June 2025, Adeleye disclosed that the state had trained and supported over 33,000 women on financial literacy and entrepreneurship in the last three years. She reaffirmed the Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s commitment to uplifting women through various social interventions, including the Ogun State Women Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as Oko’owo Dapo.
Since its inception in 2022, over 33,000 women across the 20 LGAs have benefited from training in financial education, business skills, gender, and life skills.
“Testimonials abound across the state on how the project has transformed the means of livelihood of our women and their entire households,” Adeleye added.