The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and the World Bank, has launched a ₦6 billion Community Investment Fund to empower 3,855 Women Affinity Groups across the state under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up.

The fund was officially flagged off in Ijebu-Ode as part of efforts to expand women-led businesses, strengthen household livelihoods and deepen women’s participation in economic activities.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the immediate past Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, described the intervention as a major step towards helping women transition from subsistence trading to sustainable enterprises.

According to the governor, the beneficiary groups qualified for the intervention after meeting key programme requirements, including regular participation, savings, internal lending, opening bank accounts and preparing micro-investment plans.

Abiodun disclosed that the women had collectively saved ₦2.6 billion within seven months, while loans accessed through the affinity groups had exceeded ₦4 billion, describing the figures as evidence of financial discipline and readiness among participants.

He clarified that the ₦6bn Women’s Fund is not an outright grant, but a revolving financing facility designed to provide business capital, create employment opportunities and improve household welfare across participating communities.

The governor explained that the initiative builds on the Nigeria for Women Project, which began implementation in Ogun State in 2020. He said the programme has since expanded to seven local government areas, where 5,394 Women Affinity Groups now serve more than 124,000 women across 3,489 communities.

Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Princess Jummaih Idonije described the programme as a strategic economic intervention aligned with the Federal Government’s agenda for inclusive growth and women’s economic empowerment.

World Bank Task Team Manager Michael Ilesanmi said the initiative would help bridge the financing gap faced by women entrepreneurs while strengthening their resilience against economic shocks.

Beyond access to capital, the programme incorporates financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, responsible borrowing, business development, gender awareness, health insurance, climate adaptation and National Identification Number enrolment.

Beneficiaries, including women from Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta North, welcomed the intervention, saying it would enable them to expand their businesses, increase household income and strengthen the culture of savings and collective responsibility within their communities.