Apapa Iganmu LCDA launches ‘Nigeria For Women Empowerment’, targets hundreds of residents
Empowerment
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, May 14,2026 (NAN) Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has launched a high-level empowerment awareness programme.
The programme is with the theme: “Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project’ (NFWP-SU) Targeting hundreds of Women in the Community”.
The newsmen reports that the programme is in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
Mr Jimoh Saliu, Chairman of the LCDA during the exercise on Thursday in Lagos, said the empowerment was a strategic move to bolster economic independence and alleviate poverty among women.
According to him, the development which commenced at the Apapa Multipurpose Hall, marks the commencement of a transformative five-year empowerment initiative, designed to institutionalise female economic growth at the grassroots level.
“This empowerment programme is in collaboration with both the Federal and State Governments, a flagship supported by the World Bank.
“While the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs provides national coordination, the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs oversees the state-level implementation.
“To ensure the project reaches every corner of our community, a Local Government Project Implementation Unit (LGPIU) has been established.
“This unit will collaborate with dedicated ward facilitators, recruited from within our communities to drive the project’s objectives directly to the residents,” Saliu said.
The council chairman added that the core value of the project relied on the formation of Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) the self selected, managed groups, of 15 to 25 women residing in the same community.
He said that the eligibility wasopened to all women, aged 18 and above and owned or operate a business.
Saliu added that the project maintained a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination.
“Participation is open to all, regardless of religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, disability, or social class.
“The group members meet weekly to contribute to a collective savings pool. From this pool, members can access loans to expand their businesses.
“Additionally, a ‘Social Fund’ is available to provide immediate support for members during emergencies,” he said.
Saliu urged all eligible women within the Apapa -Iganmu LCDA, to seize the opportunity by joining a WAG.
According to him, women are not just saving money, rather, are building the foundation for a more prosperous, stable and developed state.
Mr Rasheed Ajibade, the Head of Operation NFWP-SU in Ogun, while speaking on the importance of the project, said the NFWP-SU was not just about financial savings, but building social capital and domestic harmony.
“NFWP-SU is not just about financial savings, but about building social capital and domestic harmony.
“The expected benefits include increased household income and strengthening the financial capacity of women to support their families.
“Family and community harmony will also reduce economic stress to foster better relationships at home and within the LCDA,” he said.
Ajibade added that the project allowed business expansion where government provided additional support to committed WAGs, helping them transition into livelihood collectives, for large-scale business growth.
NAN reports that hundreds of the Apapa Iganmu community women gathered to register for the empowerment during the programme, as various WAGs were formed to begin the process.
