Remi Tinubu, minister empower women farmers at national agro-value chain workshop
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering women farmers as a critical step toward achieving food security and strengthening rural livelihoods.
She gave this assurance 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 Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, the First Lady praised the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, for championing the initiative in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Tinubu emphasized that women farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s food system, must be equipped with modern farming knowledge, skills, and market access. She highlighted that this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the drive to boost food production and rural empowerment.
The First Lady further welcomed the President’s recent decision to ban the exportation of shea butter nuts, noting that the move will directly benefit thousands of rural women processors who dominate the sector.
Closing the event, she urged the women farmers to apply their new knowledge not only to feed their families but also to expand into global markets, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s agro-value chains.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, stressed that although women account for nearly 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, they still face systemic barriers, including lack of secure land rights and limited access to credit.
She unveiled the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme, which aims to equip 10 million women farmers nationwide with agribusiness skills, climate-smart technologies, and access to finance and markets.
The event, hosted at the WAVE x MCC Agriculture Demonstration Centre, Abuja Technology Village, featured practical training sessions on improved farming methods, agro-processing, and financing opportunities. Women participants graduated with skills that will strengthen food production, household nutrition, and rural economies across the country.
Source: Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
This development carries significant weight for agribusiness stakeholders, as women remain central to Nigeria’s food system. Beyond rhetoric, the practical rollout of initiatives such as WAVE will determine impact. Key takeaways include:
- Women as the Backbone of Food Security
With women contributing 70% of Nigeria’s agricultural labour, their empowerment is directly tied to national food sufficiency. By targeting structural barriers like land ownership and access to credit, the programme addresses deep-rooted inequalities that have limited women’s agribusiness potential. - Strategic Value Chain Expansion
The integration of women into agro-value chains will not only raise productivity but also enhance food processing and storage, reducing Nigeria’s high postharvest losses. Shea nut processing, a sector dominated by women, is a strategic export potential, and the recent export ban could ensure value addition remains in-country. - Climate-Smart & Inclusive Growth
Equipping women with climate-smart technologies aligns with Nigeria’s need to build resilience against climate shocks such as erratic rainfall and drought. This ensures smallholder women farmers are not left behind in the sustainability transition. - Market Access & Financing
Linking women farmers to structured markets and affordable finance is key to scaling impact. If properly implemented, the WAVE initiative could move millions of women from subsistence farming into commercial agribusiness, creating jobs and stabilising rural economies. - Policy & Partnership Leverage
The collaboration between the Federal Government, OIC, and private partners provides a model for scaling women-focused agricultural interventions. Consistency in policy execution, however, will be crucial in ensuring this does not remain a one-off empowerment drive.
Conclusion
Empowering women farmers is more than social inclusion — it is an economic and food security imperative. If the WAVE Programme is effectively executed, it could unlock Nigeria’s untapped agricultural potential, strengthen rural economies, and contribute significantly to national and regional food system resilience.
