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The two-day refresher training on Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) was successfully conducted on 10th and 11th March 2026 at Goodview Hotel, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026. The training targeted existing VSLA groups established under the Partnership and Local Rights Programme (P&LRP) in 2024.
A total of 53 participants (42 women and 11 men) representing 14 active VSLA groups from five Area Councils of the FCT participated. The communities covered were:
– AMAC: Gwalada, Tungan Ashere, Tungan Nasara, Gofidna, Jiwa Tsoho
– Gwagwalada: Kaida Sabo, Kaida Tsoho, Rafin Zurfi
– Kwali: Leleyi Gwari, Leleyi Bassa, Kilankwa
– Bwari: Pasepa, Kuchibuyi
– Kuje: Gaube
On Day 1, participants shared their successes and challenges one year after the initial VSLA formation and after their first share-out. Common challenges included lack of trust from the community, poor record-keeping, and difficulties with share purchase. Notable successes included: repair of a faulty solar pump borehole in Gwalada community through collective savings, formation of spin-off groups (including men’s groups) that trained neighbouring communities, enrolment of children in school from nursery to tertiary levels, and increased financial independence among women who now invest in businesses and support their families.
Mr. Kehinde Arowosegbe, Manager, Partnership and Local Rights Programme (P&LRP), addressed participants on the need for innovative approaches to grow the VSLA, increase earnings, and promote more financially independent women while standardizing operations.
On Day 2, Johnson Maichibi facilitated a recap of Day 1. Hajara Adamu took participants through key topics including meeting days, responsibilities of executives (Chairperson, Record Keeper, Box Keeper, and Money Counters), social fund, service charge, group constitution, and objectives. A practical formula for share-out calculation was introduced:
Single share = Loan fund ÷ Total No. of shares
Loan Fund = Total Shares + Penalty + Service charge
The training concluded with community-based group work where participants calculated single shares based on given scenarios, presented their work, and received corrections. VSLA kits (saving box, saving clothes, rubber, attendance register, ruler, and calculator) were distributed to all groups. Participants assured facilitators that the new share-out techniques would be adopted in their future cycles and left with their completed paperwork.
The training was highly participatory, using experience-sharing, group discussions, case studies, hands-on exercises, and practical calculations.
