100,000 Ogun women empowered to fight poverty, strengthen families, says Abiodun

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that about 100,000 women across the state have benefited from the World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), describing women’s economic empowerment as a strategic tool for fighting poverty and strengthening families and communities.

Abiodun made the disclosure on Tuesday when he received the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, who joined him in interacting with beneficiaries of the programme at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor said his administration deliberately embraced and took ownership of the programme because it provided an opportunity to reach women at the grassroots who might otherwise remain outside conventional structures of political and economic empowerment.

According to him, empowering women should go beyond appointing them to political offices to providing them with the resources, skills and opportunities required to build sustainable livelihoods, support their families and live with dignity.

The UN deputy secretary-general commended the governor for providing seed funding for the programme and, more importantly, for believing in the capacity of women to grow their businesses and transform their communities.

Mohammed praised the beneficiaries for demonstrating resilience, creativity and enterprise, saying their progress showed what could be achieved when women were given the right support and opportunities.

“You have shown that you started small and you are growing, and what we want is for every woman in Ogun State who can benefit to have that benefit,” she said.

The UN official said she would take the Ogun experience back to her home state and share it as an example of what could be achieved through deliberate investment in women.

“I will take this initiative back to my state so that everyone will know that a seed was sown in Ogun State for the women of Nigeria, and that seed is growing. A country is as strong as its women,” Mohammed added.