By Christy Tamai
The Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) has continued its grassroots mobilization efforts in Plateau State with a successful community entry exercise in Zawan A and Zawan B wards of Jos South Local Government Area, drawing large participation from women eager to benefit from the programme’s empowerment opportunities.
The exercise, which forms part of the programme’s strategy to build awareness and strengthen community ownership, provided an opportunity for women to interact directly with the Plateau State Project Coordination Unit and gain a better understanding of the initiative’s objectives and expected benefits.
Speaking during the engagement, Local Field Supervisor, Mr. Peter Mah, formally introduced the project team and explained the purpose of the visit, emphasizing the programme’s commitment to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of women and their households.
The team received a warm welcome from the host communities, with Lady Agnes Mancha, wife of the Gwom Rwei Za’ang, expressing appreciation to the Plateau State Government for extending the initiative to the area. She described women as the backbone of families and communities, noting that empowering them would have a direct impact on household welfare and community development.
Lady Mancha encouraged participants to embrace the programme wholeheartedly and take advantage of the opportunities it offers to improve their livelihoods and support their families.
Addressing the gathering, State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Nanret Agaba, commended the impressive turnout and the enthusiasm displayed by the women. She reiterated that the NFWP-SU is designed to strengthen household resilience through economic, financial, and social empowerment initiatives targeted at women.
Mrs. Agaba noted that the administration of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, remains committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the programme across participating communities, with a focus on enhancing family wellbeing and reducing poverty.
She urged women to actively participate in the programme, stressing that the knowledge, skills, and resources provided through the initiative would help families achieve better education, improved nutrition, and enhanced living standards.
The Community Institution Building (CIB) Anchor, Mr. Kikshak Diyal, sensitized participants on the programme’s key components, highlighting access to small loans, financial literacy training, financial inclusion services for unbanked women, National Identification Number (NIN) registration support, livelihood collectives, and other empowerment opportunities.
He explained that the formation of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) remains central to the programme’s implementation strategy, serving as the platform through which beneficiaries can access interventions and build sustainable support networks.
A major highlight of the exercise was the screening of prospective Ward Facilitators through written examinations and interviews. The process was aimed at identifying competent individuals who will support programme implementation and ensure effective coordination at the community level.
The successful community entry exercise concluded with increased awareness of the programme’s goals, strong community endorsement, and a renewed commitment by women in Zawan A and Zawan B wards to actively participate in the initiative.
As the NFWP-SU continues its outreach across Plateau State, stakeholders say the growing enthusiasm among women reflects the programme’s potential to drive meaningful socio-economic transformation and strengthen community development from the grassroots.
