By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State has recorded a major milestone in its women empowerment drive as the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) inaugurated Project Champions across four local government areas, bringing the total number of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) in the state to 3,486, with 83,664 women currently benefitting from the initiative.

The programme, supported by the World Bank and implemented in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu Local Government Areas of the State, is targeting a total of 4,000 WAGs as part of its expansion phase aimed at deepening financial inclusion and grassroots economic empowerment for women.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Augusta Araba, described the exercise as a “transformative movement” designed to expand economic opportunities for unbanked women across the state.

Araba said since the commencement of the programme in June 2023, it had continued to reshape the socio-economic landscape of Ogun State through enterprise development, financial inclusion, and community engagement.

“The success of this programme so far is a reflection of the commitment of our Project Champions and grassroots actors. They have remained the backbone of mobilisation and advocacy,” she said.

She noted that the initiative had also facilitated the training of 440 Ward Facilitators in financial literacy, digital inclusion, and enterprise development, describing this as a key step in breaking barriers to women’s economic participation.

According to her, the Project Champions remain central to sustaining the momentum of the programme.

“They serve as the critical link between the communities and the programme implementation structure, ensuring effective monitoring, coordination, and continuity of impact at the grassroots,” she added.

Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator, Bolanle Fadairo, urged the newly inaugurated Champions to demonstrate discipline, commitment, and integrity in carrying out their responsibilities.

“The success of this initiative depends largely on your dedication to its core objectives. You must remain focused and ensure that nothing undermines the credibility of this programme,” she warned.

Fadairo charged the Champions to see themselves as “ambassadors of transformation,” stressing that their roles go beyond supervision to inspiring community-driven development.

“You are expected to prioritise collective progress over personal interest and ensure that the benefits of this programme reach the most vulnerable women in our communities,” she said.

In his presentation, the Head of Operations of NFWP-SU, Rasheed Ajibade, recalled the successes recorded during the pilot phase of the project between 2020 and 2023 in Odeda, Ijebu North East, Yewa North, and Ikenne LGAs, noting that the new phase must surpass previous achievements.

“We expect you to deepen grassroots engagement, sustain the momentum of the WAGs, and ensure that every intervention translates into measurable impact,” he said.

Ajibade added that the Champions must see themselves as “accountable drivers of change whose commitment will determine the future success of the programme.”

Similarly, the Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Advisor, Taiwo Fredrick, said the sustainability of the initiative rests heavily on the Project Champions.

He outlined their responsibilities to include field monitoring, advocacy, promotion of Women Affinity Groups, and driving financial inclusion at community level.

“The sustainability of this initiative rests heavily on your shoulders. You must uphold transparency, remain accountable, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to deepen impact,” he said.

Fredrick further urged them to prioritise inclusivity and ensure that no woman is left behind in accessing economic opportunities.

Participants at the event expressed appreciation to the World Bank, the Ogun State Government, and the implementation team, describing the training as impactful and empowering.

They pledged to apply the knowledge gained towards strengthening their communities and advancing the objectives of the programme.