The Government of Kano State has officially launched the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen women’s participation in the state’s economy.

The domestication of the Federal government policy on inclusion of female gender in economic growth in Kano opens vista of equal opportunity to advance women participation in the economy, improve their livelihoods and enhance resilience.

The KANO WEE policy and action plan 2025 to 2029 essentially prioritize the needs of poor and vulnerable Women and Girls; Women and Girls Disabilities; Survivors of Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies; Survivors of Gender Based Violence; Unemployed Out-of-School Girls and Women Entrepreneurs in Informal Sector.

The Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam described the launch as a defining milestone in the state’s journey toward inclusive and sustainable development.

The Governor noted that the policy which was approved in September 2025 reflects his administration’s vision of building a Kano that is inclusive, just, and prosperous, while the policy will provide direction, meaningful change depends on implementation and sustained partnerships.

He noted that the WEE Policy represents a bold statement of the state’s commitment to people-centred governance and inclusive development. According to him, the state government has already begun translating the policy into action through significant budgetary allocations to the Ministry to prioritise women and other vulnerable populations.

He therefore called on development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure that the policy translates into tangible improvements in women’s lives across the state.

The development of the policy was supported through technical collaboration with the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) with funding from the Ford Foundation, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) funded by Global Affairs Canada, and WEE Catalyst Fund Kano Cohort (Fable Advisory & Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative) funded by Gates Foundation through the Albright StoneBridge Group.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kano noted that the domestication of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy sends a strong message that Kano State is committed to advancing women’s empowerment. He emphasised that women’s empowerment should not be viewed as a foreign concept but rather as one deeply rooted in the state’s cultural and religious values.

On her part, former Presidential advisor on social investment, Maryam Uwais advocated efficiency implementation of the policy posited that robust as the document present, its failure to impact on rural women will render it worthless.

Uwais, assured the collaboration of Isa Wali Foundation and other private partners towards expansion of the policy to ordinary women and girls across the state, while applaud Governor Yusuf’s commitment to building women potentials.

Stakeholders at the event were invited to demonstrate their commitment to the implementation of the policy through financial and in-kind contributions aligned with its priority action areas.

Other dignitaries at the event included representatives of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. The Ministry’s Director of Economic Development, representing the Honourable Minister, expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to provide technical guidance and support to ensure that the policy is effectively implemented and translates into tangible outcomes.

The launch of the policy signals Kano State’s commitment to inclusive economic reform and to advancing the role of women as key drivers of sustainable development.