FG has secured $500m loan for empowerment of vulnerable women, says Kennedy-Ohanenye

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, says the federal government has secured an additional $500 million for the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP).

On March 4, the federal government introduced a $100 million World Bank funded project to economically empower Nigerian women.

Speaking on Monday on the Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, the minister said the ministry will work with traditional rulers to ensure that vulnerable women benefit from the project. 

“I was not satisfied with how the first $100 million was used. It was mainly used for advocacy and consulting. Let me make it clear that this is not a grant, but a loan,” she said.

“The funds are supposed to be used for projects. I raised a new structure on how the funds should be utilised and was signed by the president approving it for restructuring.”

Kennedy-Ohanenye noted that the fund has moved beyond the six pioneer states it was initially meant for.

She added that the ministry will ensure that the fund is adequately managed. 

“I can assure you that the money can change the lives of all the vulnerable women in the country,” she added. 

“Awaiting the new structure, I opened a portal from the ministry of women affairs where we will onboard women from all the communities.

“I partnered the traditional rulers and commissioners of women affairs across the states. 

“The issue to me is all the states, that is what I am focusing  on. I can’t only focus on the six pioneer states, when the money coming can reach all the 36 states including the FCT.

“We have moved on to start the project without  the money being ready. We have given to 15 states already including  the FCT, so we have gone past six states.

“The portal we opened is for all vulnerable women in the country and we have onboarded over 400 women on the portal.”