More than 40,000 women in Katsina State are set to benefit from the Community Investment Fund under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project, following the state government’s commencement of fund disbursement to qualified Women Affinity Groups.

Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Katsina on Sunday, Vice President Kashim Shettima explained that the initiative was aimed at more than simply providing financial assistance, noting that it was designed to strengthen women’s businesses, raise household earnings and deepen financial inclusion at the grassroots.

Shettima said the beneficiaries had shown commitment through savings and group activities, describing the Community Investment Fund as an investment in their ability to build productive and sustainable livelihoods.

According to him, “The Community Investment Fund under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project addresses that question with an investment in capability. Over 40,000 women in Katsina State stand to receive business capital, having fulfilled the prescribed eligibility conditions and demonstrated satisfactory performance in their savings and group activities.”

The Vice President said the impact of the programme should not be judged solely by the number of women who receive funding, but by its ability to expand businesses, increase household income, generate employment and help women cope with economic difficulties.

He said, “The programme’s model of linking finance with savings, training, financial literacy and productive resources is critical to ensuring that beneficiaries can manage and grow their businesses sustainably. A woman should understand the terms on which she borrows, distinguish revenue from profit, and possess the confidence to question a transaction. Financial participation loses much of its value without informed judgment.”

Shettima encouraged beneficiaries to maintain the discipline that enabled them to qualify for the intervention by keeping accurate records, making responsible purchases and protecting trust among members of their groups.

He also called for transparency in the management of the funds, stressing that access should be based strictly on eligibility rather than political connections.

“Eligibility must remain the basis of access without favouritism or political interference. A beneficiary should understand what she receives and how the process works. Each transaction should be properly documented, and questions should receive prompt answers,” he said.

The Vice President commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to the programme and recognised the support provided by the World Bank. He also urged relevant implementing agencies to continue monitoring the beneficiaries after the funds had been released.

Earlier, Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda, disclosed that the state had invested more than N4 billion in the programme and had approved an additional N4 billion to widen its reach.

Radda said Katsina was matching every dollar contributed by the World Bank towards the programme, describing the initiative as part of his administration’s efforts to improve women’s livelihoods and promote inclusive economic growth.

“It is on this note that Katsina State is matching every dollar that is given by the World Bank to support the women in the state.

“So far, Katsina State has contributed over four billion Naira for this project and approval last month of another four billion was done by the Executive Council of the state,” the governor said.

He explained that the programme was initially implemented in Katsina, Funtua and Daura local government areas before being extended to six additional local government areas. He added that the state government planned to eventually expand the programme across all 34 local government areas.

Radda clarified that the flag-off ceremony marked the start of the disbursement exercise and not its completion.

“Today’s flag-off marks the commencement of the disbursement process. It is not the conclusion of the process,” he said.

The governor appealed to Women Affinity Groups that were not included among the first beneficiaries to remain patient, assuring them that qualified groups would be accommodated once they fulfilled the required conditions.

He said the programme was designed to give women greater access to finance, encourage collective savings, provide business support and promote productive activities capable of improving the welfare of families.

Radda also announced plans to strengthen livelihood collectives to help women participate in profitable value chains, boost production and gain access to larger markets.

“Access to finance must be accompanied by the knowledge, skills, market opportunities and institutional support required to sustain economic growth,” Radda noted.

The governor further drew attention to the participation of women with hearing impairment who had formed a Women Affinity Group and taken part in collective savings and other activities under the programme.

He appealed to the World Bank and other development partners to provide additional funding and technical assistance to help Katsina extend the initiative to all 34 local government areas.

Radda said demand for the programme remained strong, particularly among women in underserved communities and those facing difficulties accessing economic opportunities.

For the beneficiaries, the intervention offers more than financial capital, providing an opportunity to grow small businesses into sustainable enterprises, improve family income and create new economic opportunities within their communities.