By Paul Joseph
The Federal Government has introduced a new digital platform aimed at enhancing economic participation among women.
As stated in a release from the Presidency on Saturday, the ‘Happy Woman App Platform’ is a secure digital tool intended to connect Nigerian women with financial resources, skill development opportunities, markets, essential services, and government assistance.
The app’s launch coincided with President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of the expansion of the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), which aims to reach 25 million beneficiaries across the country.
This expansion builds on a pilot phase conducted in six states that successfully reached over one million women.
During the program’s presidential launch at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized that Nigeria’s developmental goals cannot be realized without prioritizing women in national planning.
“A nation that sidelines its women is destined for failure. We have long recognized this reality.
That is why this administration has not only prioritized women in decision-making but has also entrusted them with leadership roles in initiatives that fulfill our national potential,” the President stated.
He highlighted that women are vital not only to Nigeria’s development narrative but also to family stability, community resilience, and national productivity.
President Tinubu characterized the initiative to reach 25 million women as ambitious yet attainable, urging the World Bank to enhance its financial, technical, and innovative support to facilitate the national expansion of the program.
He also emphasized the importance of technology in promoting inclusion, noting that digital access is essential for effective service delivery and national competitiveness.
As part of a broader social agenda, the President has declared 2026 as the Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria, calling for coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local governments.
This declaration follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed during his official visit to Turkey in January, which aims to strengthen family unity and improve social welfare systems in Nigeria.
Looking back, in 2024, the Federal Government requested the World Bank to extend the deadline for the $100 million Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP).
The request, detailed in a letter dated January 23, 2024, sought to extend the project deadline from March 29, 2024, to June 30, 2024, marking a second restructuring attempt to ensure the project’s goals are met.
According to the request, the extension is necessary to allow the Borrower to complete livelihood activities and disburse unutilized funds under Component 2 (Livelihoods Program).
The NFWP, which was initially approved on June 27, 2018, through an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $100 million, has been primarily designed to…
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