Empowering Women, One Ward at a Time: NFWP Trains 250 Facilitators in Nasarawa

Timescope news

In a significant move to boost financial independence among rural women, the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) Scale-Up has commenced a two-week training program for 250 Ward Facilitators in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

Held at the Taal Model E-Library in Nasarawa, the training is themed "Strengthening platforms for enhancing women's economic opportunities for financial independence." The initiative aims to equip facilitators with the tools needed to drive grassroots economic change.

Declaring the training open, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Barr. Hauwa Samuel Jugbo, represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr. Clement Allu, emphasized that the program is specifically designed to uplift the economic and financial status of women across the state.

Barr. Jugbo revealed that Governor Abdullahi Sule has graciously approved the implementation of the project in three Local Government Areas: Awe, Nasarawa, and Wamba. She urged the facilitators to remain focused on understanding the core objectives of the program to ensure its overall success at the community level.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Technical Advisor for the program in the state, Mr. Ayodele Temitope Iretiayo, explained that the initiative is tailored to improve livelihoods and create economic opportunities for unbanked women. He stressed the importance of women uniting under common platforms to enhance their economic prospects and build better lives for themselves and their families.

The State Project Coordinator, Hajiya Halima Shittu Yusuf, provided further insight into the training structure, noting that the "step-down" approach is designed to arm facilitators with a thorough understanding of the Community Operational Manual. This knowledge will enable them to form Women Affinity Groups in their respective communities, a crucial step toward meeting the project’s development objectives.

"The training manual will serve as a guide for facilitators as they carry out their responsibilities at the ward level," Hajiya Shittu Yusuf stated. She commended the state government for its unwavering support, commitment, and the prompt release of funds, which qualified Nasarawa State for the program’s implementation. She also extended appreciation to the Honorable Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs for her relentless backing of the initiative.

One of the participants, Hulera Abbas, expressed gratitude to both the Nasarawa State Government and the Federal  Government of Nigeria for creating a platform aimed at improving women's economic fortunes. She noted that the training has exposed her to new strategies and highlighted the power of women coming together to support one another in growing their small-scale enterprises.