A new empowerment programme has been launched with the aim of driving economic growth in Northern Nigeria by targeting 100,000 petty traders across the region. The initiative, led by the Tinubu Northern Women Support Group (TNWSG), will provide financial grants to women in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to scale up their businesses and promote economic sustainability.
“Our quest is to join forces with the government of Nigeria to translate the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ into tangible grassroots impact, among the women living and engaged in petty trade in the three geopolitical zones of the North,” said Hon. Aisha Aliyu Obalim, the national coordinator of TNWSG.
The programme is designed to provide a substantial boost to women petty traders, with beneficiaries receiving direct financial intervention to expand their commercial activities.
“This is not going to be mere handouts for consumption; it is going to provide capital for trade. It is intended to be a substantial boost to women petty traders in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” Ms Obalim emphasised.
The selection criteria will focus on identified gaps and the viability of existing enterprises, with the goal of enabling women to scale their petty trading into significant commercial ventures. Beneficiaries will be organised into clusters of 50 women each, supervised by designated Cluster Leads to ensure accountability and track the impact of the funds on their livelihoods.
“Empowering the women in the Northern region is an investment in the economic backbone of the region. The selected 100,000 beneficiaries will receive financial grants to boost their petty trade significantly,” Ms Obalim stated.
The programme is expected to have a lasting impact on the regional economy, with the potential to uplift families and communities across Northern Nigeria.
