By Amos Tauna,Kaduna
A one-month financial literacy and empowerment initiative for 100 women in Kaduna State has concluded, aimed at fostering peace and economic resilience, organisers said on Tuesday.
The programme, led by the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) in partnership with Global Peace Women (GPW) and Yakwai Human Touch Foundation (YAHTOF), targeted women across selected communities to address socio-economic drivers of conflict.
Abdul Ahmed, Senior Programme Manager at GPFN, represented Country Director Rev. Joseph John Hayab at the closing ceremony in Kaduna.
He emphasised that poverty fuels unrest, underscoring women’s pivotal role in peacebuilding as influencers in their homes and communities.
The training equipped participants with skills in financial literacy, income and expenditure planning, market analysis, value addition, and the benefits of cooperative societies. Five cooperative societies were formed, each receiving one million Naira in seed capital to start or expand small-scale businesses.
“The goal is to enable women to live with dignity and contribute to community development,” Ahmed said, noting that economically empowered women can promote peaceful coexistence and support youth engagement.
The interfaith initiative united Christian and Muslim women in the cooperatives, fostering collaboration and religious tolerance.
Ahmed highlighted that such unity reshapes perceptions among youth, promoting long-term peace.
Lois Joseph Hayab of GPW said the programme aimed to make women self-reliant and economically productive, contributing to national peace and development.
She praised the participants’ discipline and unity during the training.
Elizabeth David Hassan, Director of YAHTOF, described the initiative as timely amid economic challenges.
“Though the financial support may seem small, it’s a stepping stone. We believe poverty will diminish as they apply their knowledge,” she said.
