The Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that women and young people working in agriculture are included in all government programs.

The Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs Omolara Svensson, revealed this at the swearing-in ceremony and transfer of the new NWAPDI National Coordinator.

After Farmer Lucy Pam was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Omolara Svensson transferred leadership of NWAPDI to her as Deputy National Coordinator. For 14 months, Svensson was the organisation’s National Coordinator.

Speaking to journalists after the swearing-in ceremony, Omolara Svensson stated that she would leverage her position as the Special Assistant on Women and Youth to reach out to genuine women farmers in the country, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural policies.

“This does not mean that they haven’t been working with the real farmers, but it is to ensure 100% inclusiveness when it comes to women and youth in agriculture and also to develop innovative ideas that can bring about food security in line with the mandates of the current administration,” she said.

The Minister’s assistant claims that women in Nigeria are marginalised when it comes to farms and agricultural loans.

“You know women are being marginalised in terms of access to farmland, land, finance, and all that. I think the tax is very high,” she added.

Source: Tribune Online

Image Credit: Voice of Nigeria