NoThe Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), in partnership with the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI) and the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), has supported the domestication of the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy in Kano State, aimed at strengthening women’s participation in economic activities and improving livelihoods across the state.
The domesticated WEE Policy was officially launched by the Kano State Government as part of efforts to create an enabling environment for women to thrive economically.
The policy was developed by the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs with technical and financial support from development partners.
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Speaking during the launch, the Programme Manager for Investing in Women in Nigeria (IIW), implemented by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Fouad Farouk Umar, explained that the initiative is a five-year programme funded by Global Affairs Canada.
According to him, the programme, valued at 15.7 million Canadian dollars, is built around three key pillars designed to strengthen women’s economic participation.
“The first pillar is the investment component where grants are provided to women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives,”
He noted that beyond financial grants, the programme focuses on strengthening the capacity of beneficiaries to enable them run sustainable businesses.
“Giving grants alone is not enough. We must also identify capacity gaps among beneficiaries and support them through technical assistance. Through this private-sector approach, we aim to reach about 10,000 women in rural and marginalized communities through these SMEs,”
Umar further explained that the third pillar of the programme focuses on creating an enabling environment, which led to the domestication of the Women Economic Empowerment policy in Kano State.
Also speaking at the event, Gender Specialist at the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Hauwa Umar, described the launch as a major milestone in advancing women’s economic participation in the state.
She said the Investing in Women in Nigeria programme supported the domestication of the policy both technically and financially.
“For us, this policy is not just a written document. It is a framework that will transform the lives of women from grassroots farmers and entrepreneurs to professionals by giving them greater economic opportunities,”
Hauwa explained that the domesticated policy incorporates the voices of grassroots communities, private sector actors, religious institutions and other stakeholders, making it more inclusive and responsive to local realities.
She added that the policy introduces a gender-lens investment approach, placing women at the centre of decision-making both at community and household levels.
“This is a significant milestone. We want women not only to contribute economically but also to participate actively in leadership and decision-making processes,”
Hauwa also disclosed that stakeholders at the launch signed pledge cards committing their support towards implementing the policy’s action plan.
“We will follow up on these pledges through a technical committee that will work with relevant ministries, private sector organisations and community groups to ensure effective implementation,”
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The launch also coincided with activities marking the International Women’s Day 2026.
In her remarks, the Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina Sani, described the policy as a critical document for the development of women in the state.
She commended the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for approving the policy and supporting its implementation.
Hajiya Amina noted that the state government has already implemented several empowerment initiatives for women, including financial support programmes since the current administration assumed office.
She further revealed that funding for women empowerment programmes has been captured in the 2026 state budget, with about 80 percent of the allocation dedicated to supporting women’s economic activities.
Also speaking, Sarkin Shanun Kano, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, emphasized the importance of the policy, noting that women constitute more than half of the population.
“If you consider women and the children they raise, you are talking about nearly 75 percent of the population. Ignoring this sector can create serious challenges for society,”
Muhammad stressed that access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges facing women entrepreneurs.
“Many women are educated and hardworking, but they struggle to access credit. Financial institutions must provide opportunities for women to access loans, preferably at concessional rates,”
He suggested that government could also establish special funds to provide interest-free loans for women entrepreneurs.
Drawing from his experience in the banking sector, he noted that women generally have higher loan repayment rates than men.
He further pointed out that women in rural communities often face financial exclusion due to limited access to banking services.
On her part, former Presidential advisor on social investment, Maryam Uwais advocated efficiency implementation of the policy posited that robust as the document present, its failure to impact on rural women will render it worthless.
Uwais, assured the collaboration of Isa Wali Foundation and other private partners towards expansion of the policy to ordinary women and girls across the state, while applaud Governor Yusuf’s commitment to building women potentials.
The Kano State Women Economic Empowerment Policy is expected to serve as a framework for strengthening women’s access to finance, skills development and leadership opportunities, while promoting inclusive economic growth across the state.