In a major step toward expanding micro-enterprises and deepening financial inclusion across rural communities, the Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, has commenced the disbursement of a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund (CIF) to 3,855 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs).
The flagship rollout, executed under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), was officially flagged off on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Awujale Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode.
Designed as a revolving loan facility rather than a grant, the CIF is structured to provide sustainable capital to women-led enterprises across participating council areas, enabling beneficiaries to scale small business operations into commercially viable enterprises.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun at the event, the immediate past Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, emphasised that the initiative represents a strategic shift from welfare handouts to self-sustaining economic empowerment.
”Today, we gather not merely to mark the disbursement of a fund, but to celebrate another important step in our deliberate journey of empowering women, strengthening families, and expanding opportunities for sustainable livelihoods,” Adeleye stated.
She revealed that prior to the disbursement, the beneficiary groups demonstrated exceptional financial discipline by saving ₦2.6 billion over a seven-month period while accessing more than ₦4 billion through internal peer-to-peer lending.
Highlighting the scope of the intervention, the governor noted that the Scale-Up phase has expanded across seven target local government areas, including Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Abeokuta North, Ipokia, and Remo North, reaching 5,394 affinity groups comprising 124,062 women as of late September 2026.
Over 26 states have since visited Ogun to understudy its model, which has also been adopted by the World Bank as a national training hub.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Technical Management Princess Jummaih Idonije lauded the state’s leadership in executing grassroots economic programs.
She noted that the initiative aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding credit access to unbanked female entrepreneurs.
Representing the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Barrister Adebimpe Obienu, underscored the systemic role women play as traders, farmers, and artisans in driving local commerce.
Meanwhile, World Bank Task Team Manager Michael Ilesanmi noted that the capital injection equips beneficiaries with the financial resilience required to weather broader economic pressures.
Ahead of the ceremonial flag-off, Ogun State NFWP-SU Project Coordinator Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo reiterated that the program combines financial capital with structured training in financial literacy, business management, and life skills.
Beneficiaries present at the pavilion, including Oyesanya Omotoke of Irede WAG in Sagamu, Ayomide Ogunleye of Ifeoluwa WAG in Ijebu-Ode, and Adesola Teriba, Chairperson of Success WAG in Abeokuta North, expressed gratitude for the fund.
They pledged to deploy the capital into high-yield commercial activities while maintaining strict repayment discipline to ensure the revolving facility benefits future generations of female entrepreneurs.
