The Kaduna State Government has renewed its commitment to women’s economic empowerment by launching a major initiative targeting 10,000 women entrepreneurs across the state. Through the N5 billion empowerment grant, women operating in cooperatives or business clusters are set to benefit from financial support aimed at enhancing their livelihoods and boosting inclusive development.
The sensitisation workshop, organized by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development with backing from Dev-Afrique Development Advisors, brought together key stakeholders from the 23 local government areas. Participants included officials from government ministries, civil society groups, women leaders, and the private sector.
This empowerment program stems from the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy and Action Plan, launched in November 2024 by Governor Uba Sani. The policy seeks to eliminate obstacles hindering women’s full participation in the economy, improve access to resources, and ensure no woman is left behind in the state’s development agenda.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Human Services, Hajiya Rabi Ibrahim, revealed that while the program targets 10,000 women, only 2,000 have so far registered. She encouraged more women across the state to join cooperatives or clusters to benefit from the initiative.
The grant is supported by the Gates Foundation through the WEE Catalyst Fund, with Dev-Afrique coordinating implementation in partnership with the Albright Stonebridge Group.
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During a panel session, representatives from the ministries of Agriculture, Gender Affairs, and Business Innovation and Technology outlined plans to drive inclusive economic strategies, especially for rural and underrepresented women.
Participants also stressed the importance of involving religious and traditional leaders in spreading awareness and ensuring the inclusion of women with disabilities in future policies.
The Kaduna State Media Corporation pledged to promote women-centered programming but called for stronger partnerships with public and private stakeholders to expand reach and impact.
In addition, Keystone Bank offered to facilitate account opening services for beneficiaries, while Hajia Ramatu Ibrahim, Northwest VP of the Africa Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative, offered free business training to support the initiative.
Wrapping up the workshop, Mrs. Lami Usman, Director of Gender Affairs, emphasized the importance of turning the WEE Policy into real action. She called on participants to act as ambassadors of economic empowerment and ensure the program leads to real change in women’s lives across Kaduna.
Dev-Afrique confirmed that the next phase will involve integrating the policy into various ministries and assigning dedicated policy champions to drive ongoing sensitisation and implementation.
