By Christy Tamai
The Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and grassroots development through the implementation of the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP-SU).
The commitment was reiterated during an advocacy visit by the project’s implementation team to the Plateau State Bureau of Statistics and the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, aimed at strengthening institutional support for the programme.
Speaking during the visit, the Plateau State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Barr. Nanret Agaba, said the initiative has recorded remarkable success in six pilot states, prompting Plateau State to adopt the programme. She explained that the project seeks to institutionalize Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across communities to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of women.
Agaba disclosed that the pilot phase will be implemented in Jos South, Mangu, and Mikang Local Government Areas, targeting women aged 18 years and above who are engaged in productive livelihood activities.
She explained that the programme’s sustainability strategy is designed to encourage beneficiaries to mentor and support other women in establishing additional Women Affinity Groups, thereby expanding economic opportunities and strengthening community resilience.
According to her, the project will collaborate with the Plateau State Bureau of Statistics to obtain reliable data for effective planning and implementation, while the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission will support community sensitization to encourage women and household heads to embrace the initiative.
The Statistician-General of Plateau State, Dr. Micha Gongden, commended the NFWP-SU team for engaging the Bureau, stressing that effective monitoring and evaluation will be critical to ensuring the programme achieves its objectives.
He expressed optimism that the successful implementation of the pilot phase would justify the programme’s expansion to other local government areas across Plateau State.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, described the initiative as a timely intervention that has the potential to transform the economic fortunes of women and families across the state.
She noted that empowering women remains one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, strengthen households, and address social challenges such as child trafficking, domestic violence, gender-based violence, and human trafficking.
Dazyam commended the Plateau State Government for providing the counterpart funding required for the project and assured the implementation team of the Commission’s commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to ensure the programme reaches its intended beneficiaries.
The Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up is a Federal Government-backed initiative designed to improve women’s access to livelihood opportunities, strengthen financial inclusion, and build sustainable community-based support systems that promote inclusive economic growth.
