Deserving Commendations Of Governor Udom Emmanuel For The Sweeping Impact Of Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) In A'Ibom State

By Edet Okpo  

It is highly commendable that barely four months following the commencement  of the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) in Akwa Ibom State, available record shows that it has recorded rapid progress and huge successes with no fewer than 11, 308 participating women currently enjoying corresponding positive impact on their lives and businesses courtesy of the project.

These were the highlights by the State Coordinator of the project, Barr. (Mrs.) Ofonime Etuknwa, during a recent media chat at the instance of a team from Aries Concept, a Communication Consultant to the NFWP based in Abuja, who were in Uyo, the State Capital for its periodic assessment and updates of activities of the project in Akwa Ibom State.  

Therefore, from Akwa Ibom women who are beneficiaries of the programme, it was a rain of appreciation and commendation upon the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for his vision and genuine interest in having linked the State to the Project, and also setting up mechanisms for its effective implementation.  

The Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) is a five-year project of the Federal Government of Nigeria with support from the World-Bank, with the objective of supporting improved livelihoods for women in targeted States in Nigeria.

Launched in 2019, it also supports Nigerian government’s efforts of ensuring gender equality and improving women’s economic wellbeing at individual and household levels as well as the community at large. 

Giving a breakdown of the progress report of the project in Akwa Ibom State,Barr (Mrs) Ofonime Etuknwa heaped praises on the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for the sustainable personal interest he has demonstrated towards the success of the project.

Barr. Etuknwa who was at the media chat with  some Members of the Technical Committee for the project and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare,Mrs Margaret Edem who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare , represented  Mr. Anietie Udom, particularly acknowledged the Governor’s commitment for the many functional life-enhancing models he has secured for Akwa Ibom women evident in  the result-oriented partnerships the State currently enjoys  courtesy of the World Bank and the federal government of Nigeria .

She also lauded the Governor’s wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel, for what she called her “consistent support and advice; impactful advocacies; and altruistic developmental models for the empowerment and emancipation of Akwa Ibom women.

Via a projector  presentation entitled “Road Map to Nigeria For Women Project in Akwa Ibom State”, the State Coordinator x-rayed the history of the project in the State, its essence, targets, areas covered, and impact created as well as projections for the future. 

Details showed that the project, which is under the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, began in 2019 in Nigeria but with full-scale implementation in 2020. 

“Presently, it is a project of the Federal Government, though it is assisted by the World Bank. But in this instance, every fund and kobo is that of the Government of Akwa Ibom State”, Etuknwa explained.

According to her, States so far covered are spread across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, represented by - Abia, Kebbi, Ogun, Niger, Taraba and Akwa Ibom. Categorically, Akwa Ibom joined the NFWP midway in January 2022.

Thereafter, for implementation, three local government areas spread across the three Senatorial district of the State, namely, Onna, Ibesikpo and Oruk Anam were chosen as pilot areas of the project, which started  in April 2022. 

The report indicated that, the primary beneficiaries of the project are women in rural areas. Or in the exact words of Mrs. Etuknwa: “It is targeted at Women from  the age of 18 in the local governments enlisted for mobilization and participation in women affinity groups. It is not for the poorest of the poor. It’s not also for women who can access advanced financial institutions (like getting loans or other financial aids from commercial banks). 

In other words, they include petty traders like akara sellers, moi-moi sellers, water leaf and pumpkin sellers, foofoo sellers, farmers as well as small stalls owners for provisions and tailoring, etc, with the aim of  improving their livelihood, enhancing their income such that no matter how small the income, they can sustain the business and also improve the welfare of their families. 

The project also adopts existing groups of women who practice savings and loans and who are ready to work according to the project timeline and guidelines. In the three implementing local government areas, the project targets 54, 000 women. From about 3, 600 women affective groups in the six States so far enrolled, the project is expected to benefit 324, 000 women. 

The target for each local government is 18, 000 spread amongst women affinity groups. This is to bring about togetherness, closeness and trust within the communities, since the women self-select themselves into 15 to 25 in number. 

Further breakdown showed that in the three local governments areas, Akwa Ibom so far has 98 ward facilitators, 481 WAGS and 1, 308 participating women, just in space  of  about four months, with the sole target of 54, 000 women on the first phase of the project.

On the modus operandi, Mrs. Etuknwa stressed that the women are not being given direct loans or grants by the State government, but are trained on how they can generate or recycle monies within themselves within a period of 42 weeks, after which they are expected to cash out and restart. She observed that this pattern has extracted efficiency, commitment and trust.   

For effective oversight of the processes and compliance by participants, and since the project is being implemented in local governments, there are some monitoring tools. This includes local government project implementing units under which there are local government field supervisors as overseers of activities therein.  

Hence, in the three implementing local government areas, there are 98 ward facilitators; three local field supervisors; and nine WAGSOS (Women Affinity Group Supervising Officers) who supports Ward Facilitators (WF) to handle group formation, savings and credits and loan management. 

There are also field supervisors; Local Government Field Facilitators (LFFs); WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene); and PMS (Project Management Information System) that enforce compliance to rules and meeting attendance and also build confidence. 

The State Coordinator therefore commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr, Ini Adiakpan, whom she said was resolute  and focused in overseeing the project at the state level and under whose ministry the project directly falls. She said she was also encouraged by the readiness and practical response of Akwa Ibom women to the project.   

Briefing the media at the end of the exercise, Mr. Kingsley Ogbonna the leader of the Aries’ team who came with the Head of Operations, Mrs. Adesola Oyawoye, stated that considering the critical role of the media in any given society, it became necessary that the media be briefed on the essence of the project and its activities in Akwa Ibom State for wider publicity.

Mr. Ogbonna observed that judging  by individual and collective performance sheets of the project in the State, Aries Concept was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the speed of implementation, the impact on beneficiaries, and the commitment of the Akwa Ibom State government to the project.

“We are in the State to foster collaborations between the project and the media. This is a routine exercise we periodically undertake to ensure the project runs according to guidelines and expectations of stakeholders. Let me say that, with what we have seen in Akwa Ibom State, the commitment and support by the State government are highly appreciated.

Besides, by the excellent work rendered by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Ofonime Etuknwa, we are confident that Akwa Ibom is up for something greater”, the Aries’ spokesperson envisioned.   

        

It is gladdening to note that, irrespective of the relative newness of the Nigeria For Women Project in Akwa Ibom State, it already has had this quantum of effect on the beneficiaries. Indeed, the State Government, the State Coordinator, Barr. Ofonime Etuknwa and other stakeholders deserve commendations for their positive contributions to the success story.  

This is one in many altruistic socio-economic projects targeted at emancipation of women that Governor Udom Emmanuel has made possible in his holistic template of governance. It is expected that with the approval for the second phase of the project that he already has granted, according to Mrs. Etuknwa, women from the remaining 28 local government areas will also have testimonies to give very soon.