Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation and Roshan Renewables have empowered 450 women in some rural communities of Adamawa state to save funds to the tune of N53 million.
Deputy Project Manager of ANI Foundation, Dr. David Peter, disclosed the savings milestone during the close-out ceremony for the two-year programme in Toungo, a community located in Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa state.
“We started these loans and savings groups in 2023, where we invited an expert organisation called ROSHAN Renewables to come and help us implement this initiative to ensure that our women will be financially independent.
“When we started this work in the Gashaka Gumti National Park, most of the women, their children, husbands and relatives were involved in most of the illegal activities in and around the park, but we realised what we can do as ANI Foundation is to change this narrative.
“That was the reason we introduced these saving and loan groups.
He said several success stories abound of women buying plots of land, starting businesses, raising their children and even training their wards up to university level through the culture of saving thousands of naira weekly.
“What we have just witnessed today is a celebration of success, these women are from savings and loan groups which we established for communities living around the park. Peter started.
Also speaking, ROSHAN State Coordinator, Happy Amos, commended the women for their resilience and dedication while urging them to keep the savings and loan programme going even after its official close-out.
“As we work with these women, we make them understand that they are the ambassadors of this Gashaka Gumti National Park, and they are the custodians of their families. I am so happy because we started this journey about two years ago.
