By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Ogun State government has disclosed that plans are under way to convert its flagship women’s empowerment initiative, ‘Oko’wo Dapo’, into a State-backed Women’s Trust Fund Policy.

The move is aimed at ensuring continuity, sustainability and transparency in women-focused economic programmes across the state.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye disclosed this during the flag-off of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) held at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode.

Adeleye said institutionalising the scheme would protect it from political transitions while deepening access to resources and opportunities for women.

According to her, the decision follows the success recorded in the first phase of the NFWP implemented in Ijebu North-East, Odeda, Yewa North and Ikenne Local Government Areas. She disclosed that 3,792 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and 61 Livelihood Collectives and Hubs had so far been established, evolving into thriving centres for innovation, savings culture, skills acquisition and intergenerational learning.

Adeleye said the scale-up phase targets the enrolment of at least 25,000 women in Ijebu-Ode alone, urging traders, artisans, entrepreneurs, professionals and women aged 18 and above to participate. She noted that the facilitators selected from local communities will ensure accessibility and community ownership of the project.

The Commissioner commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his “visionary leadership and strong political will” which, she said, has enabled the expansion of women’s empowerment programmes in the state. She also lauded the Multisectoral Coordination Structure chaired by the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, for its strategic oversight.

Adeleye maintained that institutionalising Oko’wo Dapo alongside the NFWP Scale-Up positions Ogun as a model for women-centered development initiatives in Nigeria, adding that the reforms will further promote inclusion, widen livelihood options and consolidate socio-economic gains for women.

Speaking at the event, Okubadejo said the objectives of the NFWP-SU align with the administration’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment, describing investment in women as key to sustainable development and inclusive growth. He reaffirmed government’s readiness to transform Oko’wo Dapo into a state-wide Women’s Trust Fund.

He explained that 420 Ward Facilitators will mobilise and support the formation of 10 Women Affinity Groups each, with 25 members per group—amounting to 105,000 women expected to benefit across the four implementing local governments. Beneficiaries, he said, will receive training in financial literacy, business skills, grievance redress mechanisms and life skills to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity and contribution to the state’s GDP.

Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Scale-Up Project, Michael Ilesanmi, commended Ogun State’s strong performance in the first phase, noting that the World Bank had recognised the state as a leading model, prompting 16 other states to seek peer-learning collaborations. He expressed confidence that Ogun would exceed its targets in the new phase.

Governor Abiodun and other state officials were applauded for providing consistent guidance and coordination throughout the project’s implementation cycle.