Adamawa State has intensified its efforts to promote youth and women empowerment through entrepreneurship and wealth creation programs, building on the foundation laid by the creation of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development in 2019 under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. The state also established the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency to champion initiatives focused on skills acquisition, financial inclusion, and business growth.
A flagship of these efforts is the Fintiri Business Wallet, officially launched on March 14, 2024, to provide direct financial support to small-scale business owners. At the launch, 10,000 entrepreneurs across different sectors received ₦50,000 each to strengthen and expand their businesses.
According to government officials, the scheme was designed to stimulate grassroots economic growth by boosting local enterprises and providing access to much-needed capital.
Since its inception, the program has disbursed ₦6 billion to 120,000 beneficiaries, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and reducing unemployment in the state. Governor Fintiri hailed the initiative as a strategic step to secure the future of the state’s most active population segment.
“This is a deliberate step to secure the future of our youth and women by giving them the resources to succeed,” Governor Fintiri said.
Buoyed by the program’s success, the administration has announced plans to empower an additional 100,000 beneficiaries in the next phase of the initiative.
Hon. Michael Zira, Ph.D., who piloted the program, emphasized that the success of the Fintiri Business Wallet highlights the effectiveness of targeted financial interventions in reducing poverty and fostering self-reliance.
“We are not just reducing the poverty index, we are creating wealth and unlocking the potential of our most vibrant population,” Hon. Zira noted.
The program has been widely recognized as a model for direct empowerment in Nigeria, providing not only financial support but also enhancing inclusiveness by giving youth and women access to business funding, small business loans, and entrepreneurship development opportunities.
Through the Fintiri Business Wallet and other poverty alleviation schemes, Adamawa State is positioning itself as a case study in how local governments can directly stimulate entrepreneurship, strengthen small businesses, and drive regional economic growth.
