From Umar Dankano, Yola
An international non-governmental organization, GIZ, in partnership with the Federal Government and the European Union, has launched a women empowerment programme titled Promoting Actions for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Resilience (POWER) in Adamawa State.
In her welcome address at the official launch of the empowerment initiative in Yola on Wednesday, Precious Jacdonmic, Head of Component, Gender and Economic Participation, GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment, strengthening resilience, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Jacdonmic explained that the initiative will be implemented in Guyuk Local Government Area of the state, noting that the POWER Project is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: when women have access to skills, finance, markets, and supportive systems, households, communities, and local economies thrive.
She added that by focusing on women engaged in micro and small enterprises, the project seeks to strengthen livelihoods, expand economic opportunities, and enhance resilience at the community level. She reiterated that the project will improve the livelihoods of women and their communities.
“It brings us all together around a shared vision — a vision where women are not only supported but recognized as key drivers of local economic growth, resilience, and stability within their communities.
The POWER Project is designed to deliver results that are inclusive, locally grounded, and sustainable. It will create meaningful change for the 200 direct beneficiaries and contribute to broader economic empowerment across Adamawa State,” Jacdonmic emphasized.
Speaking at the occasion, Talatu Aliyu of the Christian Aid Organization described the launch as “a critical step toward addressing the persistent economic barriers faced by women in Guyuk Local Government Area, particularly across the five target wards — Chikila, Guyuk, Bobini, Dukul, and Banjiram — where this project will be implemented.”
Aliyu stated that the POWER Project demonstrates a collective commitment to advancing gender equality, strengthening resilience, and enabling sustainable livelihoods for women.
“At Christian Aid, we are guided by the belief that economic justice is central to social justice. Women play a vital role in household welfare, community stability, and local economies. Yet, many continue to face systemic constraints — limited access to markets, financial services, productive assets, and opportunities for technical and skills development.
The POWER Project is a direct response to these realities. Its goal is to improve the economic participation, climate resilience, and technical skills of women in Guyuk LGA, thereby enabling them to build sustainable livelihoods and achieve lasting economic empowerment.
By strengthening women’s capacities and expanding their access to economic opportunities, this project seeks to shift women from the margins to the center of local economic development.
Christian Aid remains committed to providing robust programme oversight, learning, and accountability to ensure that the POWER Project delivers meaningful and measurable outcomes,” Aliyu stated.
In her response, a beneficiary, Rose Dimas Emmanuel from Guyuk, applauded the initiative, noting that the empowerment training will provide women with the opportunity to become economically self-reliant.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. David Jatau, and Chief Jatam Dona, District Head of Chikila District in Guyuk, also expressed gratitude to the organizers of the training, describing it as a welcome development aimed at uplifting women and youth in their communities.