Women running small agricultural businesses in Kaduna, Niger and Nasarawa States have received financial support to help them grow.
The support, which includes grants and access to loans, was officially presented at an event held at the Kaduna Business School. Beneficiaries were given symbolic cheques in the presence of government officials, development partners and other stakeholders.
The programme is being carried out in partnership with organisations such as AGRA, SMEDAN and the Kaduna Business School. It aims to improve incomes, strengthen agricultural value chains and tackle food insecurity.
Speaking at the event, the rector of Kaduna Business School, Dr Dahiru Sani, said many women in agriculture struggle to access funding. He noted that this kind of support is important for helping small businesses survive and grow.
He added that the beneficiaries will also be able to access more funding through Keystone Bank’s Pink Women Support Programme.
Sani described women as reliable when it comes to managing business resources, especially in repaying loans and maintaining financial discipline.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed Monrovia, said the state government has increased its spending on agriculture over the past three years. He said the budget allocation has moved from about 2–3 per cent to at least 10 per cent, in line with global standards.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, agriculture contributes about 42 per cent to Kaduna State’s economy and provides jobs for more than 60 per cent of the population.
He also said the state has approved a Gender Policy on Agriculture to improve women’s access to resources and participation in the sector.
Participants at the event were encouraged to look beyond farming into areas like processing, packaging and export. They were also advised to form cooperatives to access more support and share knowledge within their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Elizabeth Ochanya Onyeke, thanked the organisers, describing the support as timely and helpful.
