By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has reinforced its commitment to women’s economic empowerment and protection with the commissioning of the Osusu Abaala Women Palm-Oil Collective under the Nigeria for Women Programme in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
The facility was officially inaugurated by Abia State Governor, , alongside the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, , and the First Lady of Abia State. The event was attended by members of the Abia State Executive Council, representatives of the , the , development partners, traditional leaders and women beneficiaries.
Speaking at the commissioning, the minister described the initiative as a milestone in rural productivity and inclusive economic development. She said the collective demonstrates how organised women, when provided with structure, skills and market access, can transition from informal activities to coordinated, market-oriented production systems that strengthen household incomes and local economies.
She explained that the Nigeria for Women Programme was designed to dismantle structural barriers limiting women’s access to finance, markets, skills and social capital. Phase I of the programme, implemented between 2018 and 2024 across the six geo-political zones, recorded measurable gains in income growth, savings mobilisation and enterprise development.
According to her, the Federal Government has commenced a national scale-up phase aimed at reaching at least five million women across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President . She noted that the expansion forms part of a coordinated strategy to boost livelihoods, food security and inclusive growth, with 2026 designated as the Year of Social Development and Families.
Governor Otti commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and its development partners for deepening grassroots economic inclusion and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening cooperative-based enterprise systems in the state.
The minister urged beneficiaries to manage the facility with transparency and accountability, stressing that improved processing capacity and stronger market linkages would enhance productivity and incomes.
During the visit, the minister also launched a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Abia State, jointly declared open by the governor and the First Lady. The centre will provide confidential and integrated services, including medical care, psychosocial support, legal referral and coordinated access to justice within a survivor-centred framework.
Describing the centre as a strategic intervention against gender-based violence, the minister said that as of November 2025, Nigeria had established 50 SARCs across 24 states, assisting over 58,000 survivors. She emphasised the need for coordinated systems to address both physical and technology-facilitated violence, including cyberstalking and digital abuse.
She commended the Abia State Government and international partners for supporting the initiatives, noting that economic empowerment and protection systems must work together to address the root causes of gender-based violence.
With the commissioning of the palm-oil collective and the launch of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Abia State advances what officials describe as an integrated approach to social development focused on women’s economic inclusion, protection and family resilience.
