Nigeria: International Women's Day - Pencom Empowers Women in Rivers

Port Harcourt — The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has introduced a special savings bonus for women who open a personal pension plan account with it.

The initiative was part of PenCom's programme in commemoration of the 2026 international women's day celebration.

The International Women's Day outreach event by PenCom was aimed at encouraging women, especially self-employed women, to secure their financial future through the Personal Pension Plan (PPP).

Speaking during the outreach to enlighten the women, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital, Acting Director, States Operations Department, National Pension Commission, Akinsola Adeseun, said the initiative is aimed at giving self-employed women the opportunity to save for their retirement.

He explained that: "This program is an initiative of the National Pension Commission to promote a new product called personal pension plan. Personal pension plan is a program for informal sector workers, the artisans, the traders, the farmers, hair dressers, anybody that is self-employed, that is not worth with the federal government, or state government or local government or any big corporate organization.

"If you're self-employed, this programme is for you because you're not covered under the formal pension plan which is the contributory pension scheme. This plan is an initiative of the National Pension Commission to bring these people in fold because these people (the self employed), according to statistics, make up to 90% of our population and when they retire, they have nothing to fall back on," he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Ihuoma Boms thanked PenCom for initiating the program and expressed optimism that it would improve the welfare of women.

"Market women and members of various women organisations have been brought together to this epoch-making event to bless their lives and that of their families. Market women and small business owners will be acquainted with the PenCom officials on how to register and plan for life savings to achieve financial stability. I thank you all for finding time to be part of this year's celebration. Happy international best day," she said.

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