Local Women Businesses in Bauchi Mobilise Over N1bn Savings

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Local business women in seven local government areas of Bauchi State have saved over N1 billion within the seven years of the implementation of the Women Empowerment and Youths Entrepreneurship (WAY) project.

The project was an initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in the agri-food landscape, which has been quietly transformed by the project.

The local government areas that benefited from the project were Bauchi, Toro, Warji, Ganjuwa, Jama’are, Dass and Katagum. The seven-year journey that was aimed at enhancing business performance and the overall environment for women and youths-led businesses officially concluded its programmatic activities in December 2023.

At the local close-out event in Bauchi, the Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs. Lydia John Shehu, praised MEDA as “the best development partner that has impacted immensely to the socioeconomic development in the life of people of the state.”

Unveiling the project’s impact, Emeraid Capital Management Consults, a key facilitating partner, highlighted MEDA’s support across seven local government areas (LGAs), resulting in the mobilisation of over N1 billion in savings by rural women and youth led businesses from 443 communities.

Testimonials from the close-out activity emphasised the project’s role in providing women access to more than 9,000 agro-processing technologies, addressing issues such as early and forced marriages.

Expressing gratitude during the close-out, the First Lady of Bauchi State, Mrs. Aisha Bala Mohammed, commended MEDA and GAC, acknowledging the resilience and tenacity of the women of Bauchi State in navigating economic challenges.

In her closing remarks, she appealed to project partners to remain relentless in sustaining the impact of the WAY project.