The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to empower women across the country through the innovative Scrap to Bank (S2B) programme, a poverty alleviation and economic empowerment initiative. The Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa announced this during a visit to the S2B project office in Abuja.
The S2B programme, implemented by The Fashion Academy, the Association of Spouses of Nigerian Ambassadors (ASNA), African Women’s Banking Initiative (AWBI) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, aims to transform scrap materials into valuable household items. These include pot holders, table runners, tissue holders, kitchen gloves, pillows and coasters, among others.
Musawa highlighted that the S2B programme will not only empower a significant number of Nigerian women but also provide a platform to boost the fashion industry and contribute to environmental sustainability. She emphasised that expanding the project could significantly impact Nigeria’s economy, with the potential to contribute up to $100 billion to the country’s GDP.
“If the government helps to expand this initiative, it will add value to the economy by taking scrap and turning it into something usable and sellable, positively impacting the economy,” Musawa stated.
The minister also noted that the S2B initiative addresses climate change issues by promoting recycling and reducing waste. She revealed that the government is actively working to tackle climate change and sees the S2B programme as a key component of these efforts.
Musawa expressed optimism that the initiative could be exported to other countries, showcasing Nigerian culture on a global stage. She encouraged the fashion industry nationwide to contribute their scrap materials to the project, which will be transformed into valuable products.
The minister assured that the government would collaborate with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to expand the project and empower more households. She also mentioned that the ministry is working towards establishing a fund to support the S2B programme and ensure its long-term success.
CEO and founder of The Fashion Academy, Nina Kwande explained that the S2B project aims to teach and train women to be more creative with their skills, particularly those who are currently unemployed or underemployed. The project sources its scrap materials from tailors and other material handlers, transforming waste into valuable products.
President of ASNA and AWBI, Dr. Angela Adamu recalled that the project began a few months ago in collaboration with various partners, with the goal of lifting women out of poverty and unemployment. She emphasised the critical role of women in shaping future generations through skills and education.
“Research has shown that the most influential factor in developing and changing a generation for the better is a woman’s influence, especially in terms of skills and education of the children,” Adamu stated.
She also highlighted some of the challenges the S2B initiative faces, including reaching the right women to empower and finding markets for the products. However, she remained optimistic that as production increases, so will the number of women empowered through the programme.
The S2B initiative is a promising step towards women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria, with the potential to drive significant social and economic change by transforming waste into wealth.
