Shettima Launches Women’s Business Fund in Katsina

Vice President Kashim Shettima has flagged off the disbursement of the Community Investment Fund under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up in Katsina State, with more than 40,000 women to receive business capital.

The intervention is designed to help women expand their businesses, increase household incomes and strengthen economic resilience.

Shettima launched the programme on Sunday at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in women’s enterprise, productivity and economic potential.

He said the beneficiaries had met the programme’s eligibility requirements through disciplined savings and active participation in Women Affinity Groups.

“Over 40,000 women in Katsina State stand to receive business capital, having fulfilled the prescribed eligibility conditions and demonstrated satisfactory performance in their savings and group activities,” Shettima stated.

The Vice President commended Governor Dikko Radda for prioritising women and vulnerable households through policies aimed at expanding access to economic opportunities.

He urged beneficiaries to use the grants responsibly, maintain proper financial records and sustain their savings culture.

Shettima also charged programme managers to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability throughout the disbursement process.

Radda described women’s economic empowerment as a key pillar of his administration’s Building Your Future Agenda.

He said Katsina State’s commitment to the World Bank-supported programme, including counterpart funding, had enabled its expansion from six Local Government Areas to all 34 LGAs in the state.

According to the governor, the Community Investment Fund would provide additional capital to complement the savings of participating women and help them establish or expand businesses.

“Today’s flag-off marks the commencement of the disbursement process; it is not the conclusion of the process,” Radda said.

He assured eligible Women Affinity Groups that had yet to receive their grants that the disbursement would continue in phases.

The governor also appealed to the World Bank and other development partners for additional financial and technical support to extend the programme to more women, particularly those in underserved communities.

Radda highlighted the participation of women with hearing impairment who have formed their own Women Affinity Groups.

He said the inclusion demonstrated the state’s commitment to ensuring that disability does not prevent women from accessing economic opportunities.

The governor also disclosed plans to explore sustainable economic empowerment programmes for men, saying stronger livelihoods for both women and men would support families and communities.

World Bank highlights economic impact

World Bank representative Matthew Verghis said investment in women could have a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy.

He cited estimates that closing gender gaps in agriculture, self-employment and wage employment could add about $22.9 billion to Nigeria’s economy, equivalent to 5.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

Verghis said the $540 million Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up was being implemented across 32 states, with a target of directly reaching five million women and supporting an estimated 4.5 million jobs.

He added that women participating in the programme had already mobilised more than N20 billion in savings.

The World Bank official also commended Katsina State for providing counterpart funding, which he said had helped expand the programme to all 34 Local Government Areas.

He urged banks, financial institutions and private-sector organisations to regard Women Affinity Groups as potential business partners capable of contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Katsina groups mobilise N310 million

Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Malumfashi, said the programme had recorded significant progress in Katsina.

She said more than 2,393 Women Affinity Groups had been established across Katsina and Daura Local Government Areas, while Funtua had also recorded substantial growth.

According to her, the groups had collectively mobilised more than N310 million in savings.

Malumfashi urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly to expand their businesses and improve the welfare of their families and communities.

Shettima commissions roads, transport projects

Following the ceremony, Shettima commissioned three road projects executed by the Katsina State Government.

They include the dualised Kofar Sauri–Central Mosque Roundabout Road, Central Police Station Junction–Kofar Kaura Underpass Road and the newly constructed Filin Polo–Ring Road.

The Vice President also inaugurated 30 Compressed Natural Gas hybrid buses and 200 Phase I electric tricycles.

The projects are aimed at improving mass transportation and promoting cleaner energy solutions in Katsina.

The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up is a World Bank-supported initiative focused on improving women’s access to finance, markets, skills and economic opportunities.