By Awwal Umar Kontagora In a major step toward advancing women’s economic empowerment and grassroots development, Niger State Go...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
In a major step toward advancing women’s economic empowerment and grassroots development, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has disbursed ₦250 million to 2,500 women entrepreneurs in Kontagora Local Government Area.
The initiative, tagged the Bago Women Empowerment Grant, is one of the most significant social interventions under Governor Bago’s administration. Each beneficiary received ₦100,000 to support and expand small-scale and nano-businesses, in line with the governor’s “New Niger” vision of inclusivity, resilience, and people-centered development.
Speaking at the week-long rollout of the programme, Hon. Hauwa Bako, Special Adviser and Focal Person for the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Niger State, said the beneficiaries were selected through a transparent process involving traditional rulers, community leaders, women leaders, and religious leaders.
She explained that the initiative deliberately targeted Fulani women, widows, women with disabilities, and women from low-income households, as part of the administration’s drive for inclusivity.
“This empowerment is not just about financial assistance,” she said. “It is about giving women the opportunity to strengthen their livelihoods, support their households, and contribute to the wider economy of Niger State.”
Some of the beneficiaries, including Hadiza Bala and Larai Isah from Kawo village, expressed appreciation to the government, pledging to invest the funds into growing their businesses to improve household income and stability.
Community leaders hailed the programme as the largest women-focused intervention in recent years, describing it as a deliberate step toward grassroots development. Analysts also viewed the initiative as a timely response to the economic challenges facing rural communities, particularly women who sustain households through small-scale enterprises.
Observers noted that by investing directly in women’s nano-enterprises, the administration is not only addressing immediate needs but also laying a foundation for long-term poverty reduction, job creation, and sustainable community development.
With expectations that the programme will soon be replicated in other local government areas, stakeholders say the ripple effects will empower thousands more women across Niger State.
Through this intervention, the Niger State Government has reaffirmed its resolve to position women as central players in building a more inclusive and prosperous “New Niger.”
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