WiCSEEP calls for greater investment in Women-Led
By Aliyu Adamu Faggo:
The Women in Cooperative Socio-Economic Empowerment Initiatives Programme WiCSEEP, Bauchi State Chapter, has called on governments, investors and financial institutions to increase support for women-led cooperatives to strengthen economic resilience and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The call was made during the Women Cooperatives Convention/Hackathon North-East 2026, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre ICC Bauchi, under the theme, “Strengthening Women-Led Cooperatives in North-East Nigeria for Economic Resilience.”
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Aminu Hammayo, commended WiCSEEP for organizing the convention and urged the organisation to sustain its efforts towards women’s economic empowerment.
He said the Bala Muhammad administration had provided thousands of women across the state’s 20 local government areas with business-support items, including sewing and grinding machines, to promote self-reliance.
Represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Bashir Adamu Rishi, Hammayo, disclosed that the Office of the First Lady, Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed, had introduced an empowerment package worth eight million naira to support women.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Amina Katagum, said the Bauchi State Government had been supporting cooperative initiatives and encouraged WiCSEEP to sustain its efforts towards promoting women’s entrepreneurship.
The patron of WiCSEEP, Hajiya Hajara Wanka, described the convention as a welcome development and called on politicians and governments to support women in developing their businesses so as to achieve their economic goals.
Earlier, the Chairperson of WiCSEEP, Bauchi State Chapter, Hajiya Maryam Sanusi Maijama’a, expressed appreciation to Governor Bala Mohammed for providing a conducive environment for the convention.
She described the gathering as a platform for attracting investment and support for women-led businesses, adding that the organisation had 30,000 members committed to promoting entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance, market opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Maryam Maijama’a urged governments, stakeholders, investors and financial institutions to recognize the contributions of registered women cooperatives and provide them with greater opportunities to expand their businesses.
She explained that the convention was designed to empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills, networks and resources needed to grow their businesses and contribute to economic development.
