Why Kano’s domestication of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy matters

On Monday, the 9th of March 2026, history was made again in Kano city. Governor Abba Yusuf launched the women’s economic empowerment policy with the aim of moving 2 million women out of poverty in the state by the end of 2029. This is significant, in Nigeria’s ongoing conversation about inclusive growth, few initiatives carry […]

On Monday, the 9th of March 2026, history was made again in Kano city. Governor Abba Yusuf launched the women’s economic empowerment policy with the aim of moving 2 million women out of poverty in the state by the end of 2029.

This is significant, in Nigeria’s ongoing conversation about inclusive growth, few initiatives carry as much promise as the domestication of the National Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy. Yet what is unfolding in Kano State stands out as particularly unique. Beyond being a routine policy adaptation, Kano’s effort reflects a rare combination of grassroots mobilisation, cultural contextualisation, and multisectoral collaboration, elements that could make it a model for other states.

At its core, the WEE policy seeks to address a long-standing policy gap in Nigeria. For decades, women’s empowerment initiatives have been fragmented across sectors such as agriculture, finance, education, and health. The national WEE policy, launched in 2023, was designed as a comprehensive blueprint to align these interventions and accelerate women’s participation in the economy. The ultimate goal is simple but transformative: to move women from limited economic power and opportunity to full participation, productivity, and agency in markets and livelihoods. However, policy frameworks are only as effective as their implementation on the ground. This is where Kano’s domestication process becomes noteworthy.

First, Kano’s approach reflects an understanding of local context. The state is not only Nigeria’s most populous but also one of its most vibrant commercial centres. Historically known for its trading networks, textile production, and agricultural value chains, Kano’s economy is deeply intertwined with small and medium-scale enterprises. Yet, despite their visible presence in markets, agro-processing, and petty trade, women remain underrepresented in formal economic structures and decision-making. For over one year, the policy domestication led by the development Research and Projects Centre, dRPC, with the support of the Ford Foundation, African Enterprise Challenge, Isa Wali, Fable, and ASG worked across the three senatorial zones and interviewed over 149 women entrepreneurs to understand their expectation for a policy diffusion that would change the course of the state in terms of economic growth and sustainability.

An earlier gap analysis that highlights the urgency of a policy framework to unlock the productivity of women entrepreneurs and workers was conducted. The evidence shows that women in Kano often face structural barriers, including limited access to finance, land ownership, education, and digital resources. These constraints are not merely gender issues; they represent missed economic opportunities for the entire state, and for the northern region. When women’s economic potential remains untapped, growth itself becomes constrained. What distinguishes Kano’s domestication effort is the participatory pathway through which the policy is being shaped. Instead of being treated as a top-down directive from Abuja, the process has actively involved civil society organisations, private sector actors, development partners, and grassroots women’s groups. A notable example was the policy socialisation workshop held in Kano, where women-led organisations gathered to review the national policy, discuss local realities, and propose adaptations suited to the state. Another unique feature of Kano’s domestication process is its alignment with cultural and religious frameworks. Kano operates within a social environment shaped by Islamic values and the Sharia legal framework. Rather than viewing this as a constraint, policymakers are positioning the WEE agenda within principles of equity, social justice, and community welfare embedded in Islamic teachings. In doing so, the policy reframes women’s economic empowerment not as a foreign agenda but as a pathway to family wellbeing and societal development. This framing matters a lot. In conservative societies, the argument for women’s empowerment resonates most when it is framed as a shared benefit. When women gain access to resources and opportunities, they invest in their families’ health, education, and welfare. The ripple effects extend beyond individual households to entire communities. Kano’s WEE policy design also reflects a strategic sectoral focus. The policy prioritises areas where women are already economically active, such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, traditional labour markets, emerging industries, and education or skills acquisition. By strengthening women’s participation in these sectors and improving financial inclusion and digital literacy, the policy aims to transform necessity-driven microenterprises into scalable, sustainable businesses. Importantly, the process is being supported by a growing ecosystem of institutions and partners. Civil society networks, private sector organisations, and development actors are contributing expertise, resources, and advocacy to ensure the policy moves from paper to practice. Initiatives such as policy socialisation workshops and stakeholder consultations are already helping to build this ecosystem and generate public awareness. Already, Taj Bank and other institutions have pledged to support the implementation of the policy to ensure women are not only empowered, but their agency is utilised to spur economic growth and stability of Kano and the northern region

Ultimately, Kano’s WEE domestication journey underscores a larger lesson: economic transformation cannot happen without women. In a state with millions of women engaged in informal trade, agriculture, and household enterprises, empowering them economically is not only a gender issue but also a development imperative. If implemented effectively, the Kano WEE policy could become a template for other Nigerian states seeking to localise national reforms, demonstrating that policies succeed when they are rooted in community realities, supported by broad partnerships, and aligned with cultural values.

For Kano, the promise is clear: empowering women is not just about fairness. It is about unlocking the state’s economic engine.

 

Karofi is the Director of Partnership Development and Communication and a PhD candidate at Bingham University, researching the effectiveness of peer-to-peer learning as a social and behavioural change communication strategy in mitigating Gender-Based violence in northwestern Nigeria. He can be reached at [email protected]