By Joy Salami
The Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), has sought strategic media collaboration with The Graphic Newspaper to deepen public awareness and advocacy to drive women empowerment and the successful implementation of the project in Kogi State.
The call was made during a courtesy visit by the Kogi State NFWP-SU team to the management of The Graphic Newspaper, where the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Esther Ameadaji, formally introduced the project and emphasized the critical role of the media in driving grassroots sensitization and community ownership.
Addressing the management, Dr. Ameadaji commended The Graphic Newspaper for its consistent contribution to informing and educating the public, noting that effective communication remains central to the success of development programmes.
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According to her, the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up is a Federal Government initiative, supported by the World Bank, aimed at empowering vulnerable women socially and economically through improved livelihoods, capacity building, and enhanced access to opportunities.
Our goal is to improve household welfare and promote inclusive and sustainable community development, she said.
Dr. Ameadaji disclosed that Kogi State qualified for participation in the project after meeting stringent criteria, a development she attributed to the commitment and institutional capacity of the state government.
She praised the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for providing the enabling environment that made the state’s inclusion possible, noting that not all states were able to meet the requirements.
She further explained that the project will be implemented across the three senatorial districts of the state, beginning with Okene, Dekina, and Yagba East Local Government Areas, as approved by the governor. According to her, the phased approach reflects the state government’s commitment to equity and balanced development.
Dr. Ameadaji said project activities would focus on community sensitization, formation and strengthening of Women Affinity Groups, capacity building, livelihoods support, and strict adherence to transparency, accountability, and environmental and social safeguards.
She added that Women Affinity Groups are cooperative associations of women required to meet specific standards, including transparency, rotational leadership, and weekly meetings supported by a structured savings culture.
Special attention, she noted, would also be given to gender-based violence prevention, inclusion of vulnerable groups, and community safety.
The success of this project depends largely on effective communication and public awareness. No matter how good a programme is, if people are not aware of it, they will not participate, she said, stressing that the media is vital in securing buy-in not only from women but also from men, whose support is crucial at the household level.
Responding, the Managing Director of The Graphic Newspaper, Mr. Yusuf Itopa, welcomed the NFWP-SU team and assured them of the newspaper’s full support. He advised the project to engage all forms of media, print, electronic, and social media, consistently to sustain public interest and understanding.
“You already understand the value of the media, and that means half of the problem is solved. Constant education is key, especially for men, so they understand that this project is about empowering families and improving household welfare” , he said.
Mr. Itopa pledged that The Graphic Newspaper would give the project prominent coverage, including in-depth reporting, and encouraged the team to always involve the media during activities across local government areas to sustain visibility and government attention.
Also speaking, the Executive Editor, Mr. James Oyewole, reaffirmed the newspaper’s commitment to initiatives that promote the welfare of Kogi State and its citizens.
“Anything meant for the good of the state and its people, we will always support,” he said.
While expressing the appreciation of the group, Mr. Alabi Olabanji, Head of Operations of NFWP-SU, thanked the management of The Graphic Newspaper for the warm reception and support, describing the visit as “a homecoming” while expressing confidence in a partnership that would advance women empowerment in Kogi State.
