Ogun State Government has unveiled plans to institutionalize its Women Empowerment Scheme, ‘Oko’wo Dapo’, into a State-backed Women’s Trust Fund, aimed at expanding economic opportunities for women across the State.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, during the official flag-off of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) at the Awujale Interregnum in Ijebu-Ode.
The federal initiative seeks to empower 105,000 women across the four implementing Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Adeleye explained that institutionalizing Oko’wo Dapo would guarantee continuity, transparency, and sustainability for women-focused programmes, ensuring that empowerment initiatives outlive political cycles. She described the policy as a strategic move to widen access to resources and opportunities for women across Ogun State.
“The success of the first phase of NFWP in Ijebu North-East, Odeda, Yewa North, and Ikenne prompted the establishment of the State scheme,” Adeleye said.
“So far, we have established 3,792 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and 61 Livelihood Collectives/Hubs, which are thriving centers for skills development, innovation, savings, and intergenerational learning.”
The Commissioner announced that the scale-up phase aims to enroll no fewer than 25,000 women in Ijebu-Ode. Traders, artisans, entrepreneurs, professionals, and women aged 18 and above are encouraged to participate.
Adeleye noted that facilitators for the programme have been selected from local communities to ensure accessibility, guidance, and community ownership.
She commended Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for his visionary leadership and the Multisectoral Coordination Structure (MCS), chaired by Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, for providing strategic oversight crucial to achieving project milestones.
Okubadejo emphasized that “a society that invests in women invests in sustainable development, stronger households, and inclusive growth.”
He affirmed the State Government’s readiness to institutionalize Oko’wo Dapo into a State-wide Women Trust Fund.
He added that 420 ward facilitators would form ten Women Affinity Groups each, reaching a total of 105,000 women beneficiaries across the four LGAs.
“The women beneficiaries will undergo training on financial literacy, business skills, grievance redress mechanisms, and life skills to enhance entrepreneurship and strengthen their contribution to the State GDP,” Okubadejo said.
Michael Ilesanmi, Senior Social Development Specialist and Task-Team Leader for the Scale-Up Project, commended Ogun State for its performance during the first phase, noting that the World Bank designated it as a leading State. Sixteen other states have reportedly approached Ogun for peer-learning and capacity-building support.
Ilesanmi expressed optimism that the scale-up phase would surpass targets, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to women-centered development and sustainable economic empowerment.
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