More than 40,000 women in Katsina State are set to benefit from the Community Investment Fund (CIF) under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project as the state begins disbursing funds to eligible Women Affinity Groups.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who flagged off the initiative in Katsina on Sunday, said the programme was designed to go beyond financial assistance by helping women build stronger businesses, increase household earnings and gain greater access to financial services.
Shettima said the beneficiaries had demonstrated commitment through savings and participation in group activities, describing the funding as an investment in their ability to build sustainable livelihoods.
According to him, more than 40,000 women who met the programme’s eligibility requirements and showed satisfactory performance in their savings groups are expected to receive business capital.
The Vice President stressed that the impact of the programme should be measured by the extent to which it helps women grow their businesses, raise household incomes, create jobs and become more resilient to economic difficulties.
He noted that combining funding with savings, training, financial literacy and access to productive resources would give beneficiaries a better chance of managing and expanding their businesses.
Shettima also urged the women to maintain proper financial records, make responsible business decisions and preserve trust within their groups.
He called for transparency in the implementation of the programme, insisting that access to the funds must be based on established eligibility requirements rather than political connections.
The Vice President commended the Katsina State Government for supporting the programme and acknowledged the contribution of the World Bank, while calling for continued monitoring to ensure the intervention delivers its intended impact.
Speaking at the event, Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda, disclosed that the state had already committed more than N4 billion to the programme and had approved an additional N4 billion to expand its reach.
Radda said Katsina was matching every dollar contributed by the World Bank towards the initiative, describing the investment as part of his administration’s efforts to improve women’s livelihoods and promote inclusive economic development.
The governor explained that the programme initially covered Katsina, Funtua and Daura Local Government Areas but had now been extended to six additional LGAs, with plans to eventually reach all 34 LGAs in the state.
He clarified that Sunday’s event marked the beginning of the disbursement exercise and not its conclusion, assuring other eligible Women Affinity Groups that they would be considered as they meet the programme’s requirements.
Radda said the intervention would provide women with access to finance, collective savings opportunities, business support and other resources needed to strengthen their economic activities.
He also announced plans to develop livelihood collectives that would enable women to participate in profitable value chains, improve production and gain access to larger markets.
The governor highlighted the participation of women with hearing impairment who have formed their own Women Affinity Group and taken part in savings and other activities under the programme.
He appealed to the World Bank and other development partners to provide additional funding and technical assistance to help extend the initiative across all 34 LGAs.
Radda said the demand for the programme remained high, particularly among women in underserved communities and those facing barriers to economic participation.
For the beneficiaries, the funding is expected to provide more than immediate access to capital, with the potential to strengthen small businesses, improve household incomes and create wider economic opportunities within their communities.
