By Olubunmi Ibiteye
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, has received a delegation on courtesy visit from the Ogun State Project Coordinating Unit of the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP SU) aimed at strengthening peer-to-peer learning and inter-state collaboration.
Welcoming the delegation, the Commissioner described the visit as timely and strategic, noting that peer-to-peer support remains an effective approach to improving programme delivery.
She reaffirmed the Ekiti State Government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up, particularly in the pilot local government areas of Moba, Efon, and Aiyekire/Gbonyin.
The Ogun State delegation was led by the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Bolanle Fadairo, who explained that the peer-to-peer support initiative was designed to share practical experiences, lessons learnt, and best practices from Ogun State to support Ekiti State in strengthening structures for effective project implementation.
She highlighted key areas including Women Affinity Group (WAG) formation, governance and leadership structures, financial management, grievance redress mechanisms, and behaviour change communication.
Also speaking, the Ekiti State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Toyin Familoni, emphasized the importance of peer learning as a critical strategy for the smooth execution of the Nigeria for Women Program.
She noted that the collaboration would help fast-track implementation, strengthen institutional frameworks, and address potential challenges, especially at the grassroots level.
The Project Coordinator assured that Ekiti State would leverage the shared insights to ensure that Women Affinity Groups in the pilot local governments are inclusive, well-governed, and sustainable, with measurable socio-economic benefits for women.
Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Special Adviser to the Wife of the Governor (Obirin Kete), and the Special Adviser on Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project alongside other key stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with a technical session, during which both states exchanged ideas on project sustainability, monitoring mechanisms, and strategies for ensuring impactful project implementation across Ekiti State.
