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By Dayo Emmanuel
The Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) has intensified efforts to strengthen women’s economic empowerment in Lagos State, calling for increased grassroots representation and improved access to finance under its Household Economic Strengthening and Resilience (HEAR) Project.
At a multi-stakeholders meeting held Friday at NECA House in Ikeja, government officials, community leaders, civil society actors and development partners deliberated on policy dialogue and practical strategies to advance financial inclusion for grassroots women.
The meeting focused on refining policy recommendations and integrating insights from earlier consultations into a coordinated framework for action.
Speaking at the event, project consultant Mr. Adebusoye said discussions revealed persistent structural barriers limiting women’s access to economic opportunities, particularly in securing loans to expand their businesses.
“One of the things that came up clearly today is the issue of exclusion for many of our women,” Adebusoye said. “There are significant barriers in accessing collateral to obtain loans for their businesses.”
He noted that many grassroots women are financially active but lack the formal requirements demanded by financial institutions, shutting them out of credit facilities needed to scale their enterprises.
To address this, he said participants emphasised sustained advocacy to financial institutions to design more inclusive lending models that recognise alternative forms of collateral and group-based financing systems common in informal sectors.
Another key recommendation was strengthening financial literacy and adult education programmes targeted at grassroots women.
“More women need to be able to read and write, and understand the fundamentals of managing finances,” he said. “Financial empowerment is not just about giving loans; it is also about equipping women with the knowledge to manage resources effectively.”
Stakeholders also underscored the importance of leveraging grassroots governance structures such as Community Development Committees (CDC) and Community Development Associations (CDA) to deepen women’s participation in decision-making.
Adebusoye stressed that without grassroots representation, women would continue to face challenges influencing policies and accessing opportunities.
“If women are not represented at that level, they may aspire to positions at the top, but if they are not visible and active at the grassroots, it becomes difficult,” he said. “Someone who has served at the CDC and CDA level for five to ten years is better positioned to aspire to higher leadership roles.”
Participants therefore recommended a minimum of 30 percent representation of women in the executive arms of CDCs and CDAs across Lagos communities.
“We want 30 percent women representation in the executives of the CDA and CDC so that women can be recommended for empowerment. That is the way forward,” he said.
Beyond structural reforms, stakeholders called for expanded advocacy in markets and community clusters where many women operate. They also identified social media as a critical tool for bridging information gaps about available support.
“A lot of gaps we observed are in awareness,” the consultant said, stating further that, “Information about opportunities at the government and community levels must be amplified through the social media.”
In his remarks, HUFFPED’s Executive Director, Mr. Henry Adenigba described the meeting as a step toward refining policies and strengthening coordination.
“What is new after this discussion is the inclusion of some of the new ideas raised today, particularly around structure and coordination,” Adenigba said. “We are enhancing what already exists in Lagos State by clearly identifying who will do what and when it will be done.”
He stressed that the project does not seek to duplicate government initiatives but to complement them through improved monitoring and collaboration.
“It is not different from what Lagos State has done,” he said. “We are boosting what the state has already put in place to ensure better coordination and improved livelihoods for women and girls.”
On target groups, Adenigba emphasized that the approach is inclusive and accommodates overlapping age categories.
“There is no need for strict streamlining because development projects often overlap,” he explained. “Life itself is continuous. Once you turn 18, you are considered an adult under United Nations definitions, but that does not mean support should stop.”
He added that the HEAR Project captures individuals across life stages to ensure continuity rather than fragmented interventions.
“A project must be transitioning and adaptable to different ages of life,” he said. “Everybody must be captured.”
Also speaking, HUFFPED’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Adekemi Adeyeye, highlighted partnerships and community buy-in as critical to sustainability.
“One of the things we are doing is collaboration, especially with CDAs and relevant government ministries,” Adeyeye said. “There are many individuals and philanthropists willing to support initiatives that truly impact grassroots women.”
She noted that HUFFPED pursues public-private partnerships for resource mobilisation.
“We appreciate the French Embassy for funding that made this gathering possible,” she said, stating further that, “Such engagements are essential for development.”
Adeyeye acknowledged efforts by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs in skills acquisition and enterprise programmes.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs has done a lot. They have empowerment centres across the state, and participation is affordable,” she said.
She disclosed plans to intensify the use of social media platforms and influencers to expand outreach.
“A lot of these women are on TikTok and other social platforms,” she said. “We intend to intensify our efforts so that more women can get to know these opportunities.”
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Tayo Oseni-Ope, the Director of the Lagos Bureau of Statistics, urged HUFFPED to deepen collaboration with government structures.
“Our advice and suggestion is an open thing; it is not a closed thing,” he said.
Oseni-Ope emphasised leveraging the Lagos State Single Social Register, which captures vulnerable residents across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs.
“Vulnerability is relative, and it depends on individuals,” he said, urging proper profiling at Ward and Local Government levels.
“Any agency that wants to do intervention must mine from the single social register. You don’t need to know anybody. Once you are on that register, you are good to go,” he assured, noting that philanthropic organisations such as the Dangote Group, MTN, Access Bank, others rely on verified data for interventions.
To qualify, he advised residents to obtain a LASRRA card and National Identification Number (NIN), noting that databases have been synchronised.
He also encouraged stronger coordination with Women Affairs departments and youth structures at local levels.
“You don’t have to capture everybody immediately. You can make the women at the Local Government Areas leaders,” he said.
Addressing education gaps, he recommended collaboration with the Agency for Mass Education and advised proper documentation of interventions.
Oseni-Ope however advised HUFFPED to utilize GPS in the areas of their interventions for global visibility which promotes transparency.
“Donors can track your activities… to be sure you are doing what you said you are doing,” he said, stating that funders would look for HUFFPED once they see transparency.
He concluded by urging short, medium and long-term strategies backed by monitoring, evaluation and transparent reporting to attract more funders.
As the HEAR Project advances, stakeholders expressed optimism that stronger coordination, inclusive policies and sustained advocacy would translate into tangible economic gains for grassroots women across Lagos State.
