News

FG To Empower 2,000 Women In Agribusiness

Published

1 year ago

Nov 29, 2023.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Federal Government will empower 2,000 women from Jigawa, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Niger states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Agribusiness.

The Ministry of Women Affairs said the programme is designed to support women cooperatives engage in profitable and sustainable rice production, in collaboration with Green Agriculture West Africa Limited, a subsidiary of China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC).

EDITOR’S PICKS

This pilot phase is expected to empower the women through the establishment and facilitation of cooperatives, which would serve as mentoring platforms for aspiring women rice farmers, with apprentices constituting 50 per cent of the cooperative membership.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Women Affairs, Ohaeri Joseph, said the programme kicked off with a two-day ‘Train the Trainers’ programme, held in collaboration with the CGC Nigeria Limited, at the Nigerian Agricultural Demonstration Centre in Ushafa, Abuja. The Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering interest and support for women economic empowerment.

She also thanked the CGC for its support and dedication to the cause, emphasising the pivotal role such collaborations play in advancing women’s development. The minister also called for increased cooperation and support from both public and private stakeholders to further amplify the programme’s impact.

The statement reads: “As a gesture of support, the Managing Director, Mr. Wang Xiemin, has pledged to donate high-yield rice seedlings to the cooperatives once their lands are prepared. He also said the company will step up the collaboration on more agricultural trainings and other partnerships across various agricultural chains which will extend to peanuts, corn, cassava, vegetables and other agricultural products.

“A highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the trainees, who will play a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and expertise within their cooperatives.

“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is optimistic that this programme will contribute to the economic empowerment of women and foster sustainable growth in agribusiness, while aligning with broader national development goals. As the programme progresses, it is expected to serve as a model for future initiatives aimed at empowering women in various sectors of the economy, driving positive change, and fostering inclusivity.”
Click to watch our video of the week