The Federal Government, in partnership with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has launched a three-day training programme in Abuja to empower women with modern agricultural and financial skills.
Held from August 27 to 29, 2025, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focuses on practical knowledge in greenhouse farming, homestead gardening, post-harvest storage, financial literacy, and agribusiness management.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the workshop as “a turning point” in Nigeria’s journey toward gender equity in agriculture.
“Women make up 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce and produce 80% of our total agro-output. Yet, they earn 30% less, and only 10% own farmland or have access to agricultural financing,” she stated.
She emphasised that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, women are no longer regarded as passive beneficiaries but as primary drivers of national transformation.
At the heart of this effort is the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Initiative, a flagship programme set to empower 10 million women across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The initiative will provide the skills, resources, and support necessary for women to thrive as entrepreneurs and innovators in the national food system.
The event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the OIC, cementing their joint commitment to advancing women’s empowerment.
She also gave special recognition to the Mutual Commitment Company (MCC), a private sector partner within the WAVE Consortium, for its steadfast support.
Representing the OIC, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, the Assistant Secretary-General, affirmed the organisation’s dedication to enhancing women’s empowerment and food security across the Muslim world.
Also present was Dr. Abdul Falilat Ajoke, Director of the OIC’s Social and Family Affairs Department, who engaged directly with participants to ensure alignment with the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW).
For participants like Mrs. Dinatu Adiza Sani from Abuja Municipal Area Council, the training was both timely and life-changing.
“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.
She praised President Tinubu and Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim for prioritising rural women farmers.
Marking 30 years since the creation of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Beijing Platform for Action, the Minister urged Nigerian women to seize new opportunities:
“The policies are being reformed, the support systems are growing, but the real transformation lies in your hands.”
She concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring women are not just participants, but leaders and innovators in Nigeria’s agri-food systems.
“Your success is Nigeria’s success,” she declared.
The workshop signals a new chapter for women in agriculture, where inclusion, investment, and innovation are no longer optional but essential.
Source: This Day
Image Credit: The Sun
