Women in Agribusiness to be Empowered by FG using the Cooperative Enterprise Model – Minister of Women Affairs

….Empowered 200 Women Train-The-Trainers

…To Empower 2000 Women in Agribusiness

Attention all women in agribusiness! You are about to be empowered by the Federal Government through a cooperative model. The Minister of Women’s Affairs Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye is leading this charge to ensure that your voices are heard and your businesses are given the support they need to succeed. Get ready to take your agribusiness to the next level with this exciting initiative!

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

This pilot programme 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% of the cooperative membership.

The special assistant, media to the minister of women affairs, Ohaeri Joseph in a press statement said the programme’s kickoff was marked by a two-day “Train the Trainers” programme, held in collaboration with the CGC Nigeria Limited at the Nigerian Agricultural Demonstration Center in Ushafa, FCT.

He said the minister, Uju Kennedy applauded President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering interest and support for women’s economic empowerment.

She also expressed her gratitude to CGC for their support and dedication to the cause, emphasizing the pivotal role such collaborations play in advancing women’s development, as she seized the opportunity to call for increased cooperation and support from both public and private stakeholders to further amplify the impact of the program.

According to him, as a gesture of support, the Managing Director of CGC, Mr. Wang Xiemin pledged to donate high-yield rice seedlings to the cooperatives once their lands are prepared.

The special adviser added: “Further enhancing the women’s capacity to engage in sustainable farming practices. He also indicated that the company will step up the collaboration on more agricultural training 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 newly certified trainers, who will play a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and expertise within their respective cooperatives. This not only acknowledges their commitment but also symbolizes a tangible step towards building a network of skilled and empowered women in the rice production sector.

“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is optimistic that this program will contribute to the economic empowerment of women and foster sustainable growth in agribusiness aligning with broader national development goals. As the program 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.”

 The programme’s pilot phase is set to empower 2,000 women from seven states namely Jigawa, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Niger, and FCT, through the establishment and facilitation of cooperatives.