The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has flagged off a National Workshop on Agro-Value Chain Capacity Building for Women Farmers in Abuja. The initiative seeks to strengthen women’s participation in agriculture by equipping them with modern skills, market access strategies, and improved productivity techniques.
According to the Minister, Honorable Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that the workshop will not only equip women farmers with tools for agribusiness growth but also strengthen Nigeria’s drive towards food security and rural development. Women farmers have expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the programme underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment, particularly in agriculture where women constitute a major workforce but continue to face structural barriers. The OIC, through its development arm, is supporting the effort as part of wider interventions aimed at promoting inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods across member states.
Stakeholders from government, development partners, civil society, and farmer cooperatives are participating in the workshop, with sessions focused on practical strategies for improving access to finance, technology, and agribusiness opportunities. The minister noted that the initiative would not only enhance women’s income levels but also consolidate Nigeria’s food security and rural development drive.
Speaking on the sidelines of the training, Chairman of the Women’s Agro Value Expansion (WAVE), Mr. Shittu Kabir, described the workshop as a game-changer. He said it would empower women to adopt modern techniques, build profitable ventures, and establish sustainable value chains from farm to market. “This is about transforming agriculture into a pathway for women’s economic independence,” he stressed.
For participants like Mrs. Dinatu Adiza Sani from Abuja Municipal Area Council, the training was both timely and eye-opening. “I have been farming ginger and groundnuts since childhood, but I only sell them raw without processing or packaging. This workshop is teaching me how to add value and earn more,” she said, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Women Affairs for prioritising rural women farmers.
Another participant, Mrs. Saleh, urged women to embrace agriculture as a sustainable source of livelihood and take advantage of government empowerment programmes. She noted that self-reliance would not only uplift widows and vulnerable groups but also strengthen household incomes and the nation’s agricultural base.
