By Ameh Gabriel
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide agro-value chain initiative designed to empower 10 million women farmers and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, made this known at the graduation and empowerment ceremony for women farmers under the National Workshop on Agro-Value Chain Capacity Building for Women Farmers held in Pyakasa, Lugbe, Abuja.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Senator Tinubu commended the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and her team for driving the programme in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“As mothers, nurturers, and nation builders, women farmers form the backbone of food security and rural development in our country,” the First Lady said. “By equipping them with knowledge, skills, and access to modern agricultural practices, we can increase food production, improve nutrition, and boost our economy.”
She added that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on agriculture and food security. She further praised the President’s recent ban on shea butter nut exports, noting that the policy would directly benefit rural women who make up 95% of local processors.
Declaring the workshop closed, Senator Tinubu encouraged the beneficiaries to apply their newly acquired skills not only to feed their families but also to tap into global markets and expand Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasized the critical role of women in agricultural transformation.
“Women constitute nearly 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural labour force, yet less than 14% have secure land rights and only about 10% can access credit,” she stated. “Addressing these barriers is both a national security imperative and smart economics.”
She highlighted the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme, which aims to support 10 million women with climate-smart technologies, agribusiness training, affordable financing, and access to markets.
The Minister expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for prioritising women in his agricultural agenda, the First Lady for her advocacy, and partners such as the OIC and MCC for their support.
The event, held at the WAVE x MCC Agriculture Demonstration Centre in Abuja Technology Village, drew women farmers, cooperatives, policymakers, and development partners. It featured intensive training sessions on modern farming practices, financing, and value-chain opportunities, preparing the graduates to contribute to food production and rural economic growth nationwide.
