Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has announced plans to expand the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) to all 34 local government areas of the state following the program’s positive impact in its three pilot councils.
The World Bank-supported initiative, implemented by the Federal Government in collaboration with participating states, is designed to promote women’s economic empowerment by improving access to financial services, encouraging savings groups and supporting small businesses.
Speaking after meeting with beneficiaries in Daura, Governor Radda said the programme has already empowered more than 57,000 women across Katsina, Daura and Funtua local government areas.
According to him, participants have organised themselves into savings groups, strengthened their businesses and collectively saved more than ₦349 million, demonstrating the program’s impact on improving financial resilience and entrepreneurship among women.
The governor described women’s economic empowerment as a strategic investment that not only raises household incomes but also strengthens communities and contributes to long-term economic development.
He revealed that the Katsina State Government has committed ₦4 billion as counterpart funding for the program, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring its continued success.
Encouraged by the achievements recorded during the pilot phase, Radda announced that the initiative would be extended to all 34 local government areas, providing more women with access to business support, financial inclusion services and income-generating opportunities.
The governor also disclosed that the state government is considering introducing a similar empowerment program for men to improve household incomes and promote more inclusive community development.
Radda commended the program’s beneficiaries, development partners and implementing agencies for their contributions to its success, expressing confidence that the expansion would further strengthen women’s participation in Katsina State’s economy while fostering sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth.
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