Katsina Secures Up To $8m World Bank Funding To Expand Women’s Empowerment Programme

The Katsina State Government has secured up to $8 million in additional funding from the World Bank to accelerate the implementation and expansion of the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) across the state.

The development was announced during a meeting between Governor Dikko Umaru Radda and a delegation from the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Nigeria for Women Project at the Katsina State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the funding, which is expected to be between $6 million and $8 million, will be released this year to fast-track the programme’s rollout across Katsina’s 34 local government areas.

The initiative is aimed at reducing poverty, improving household incomes, strengthening community resilience and addressing insecurity, particularly in communities affected by conflict and displacement.

Governor Radda said the state had already committed ₦4 billion as counterpart funding for the project, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to empowering women economically.

He also unveiled plans to launch a state-funded Nigeria for Men programme to promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance and community development among young people.

“We invested in this programme because we believe it will uplift families across the state,” the governor said, while calling for faster implementation so beneficiaries can begin accessing its benefits.

Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim Suleiman, said implementation challenges had been resolved, paving the way for the World Bank to release the funds for the project’s expansion.

She also disclosed plans to pursue an additional $1.5 billion in financing to scale up the initiative nationwide, noting that about 4.5 million women have already benefited out of the programme’s target of 10 million beneficiaries.

Suleiman assured Katsina of continued technical support from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and development partners, adding that the state has the potential to become a model for other states implementing the programme.

The World Bank Task Team Leader for the Nigeria for Women Project, Michael Ilesanmi, confirmed that the funds would be disbursed this year to speed up implementation and expand opportunities for women across the state.

He explained that beneficiaries would become eligible for the Community Investment Fund after meeting savings, governance and organisational requirements, with the first batch expected to qualify within three to four months.