IFAD seeks collaboration with FG on women education
By Felicia Imohimi
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has solicited the collaboration of the Federal Government on women education in order to enhance food production and national development.
Dr Yaya Olaniran, IFAD Executive Director, Nigeria made the call at an Open House Exhibition Fair and Gender Dialogue in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of activities to commemorate the International Women’s Day with the theme “Inspire Inclusion.’’
The dialogue is tagged “Investing in Women in Agriculture.”
Olaniran said that women education had multiplier effect on the family, neighbourhood, community and the nation at large.
Olaniran, who is also the Permanent Representative to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme, Rome, said training a woman went a long way to better the home.
“When you train a woman, you are training the home, community and more importantly the next generation.
“Mothers look after children in every aspect like welfare, health feeding and more importantly their spiritual well-being.
“My appeal is the education of women; such education has to do with different categories; everyone needs to be educated to play their role regarding what to do for us, our nation and indeed for our ward.
“We cannot afford not to do it and do it well; everyone has to work together to meet the need of women,” he said.
Dr Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, Programme Management Department, IFAD, Rome, said women played key role in the production, processing, and marketing of food and making decisions in the home that guarantee adequate nutrition.
Brown assured of IFAD commitment to further enhance the productivity of women in agriculture to improve their livelihood and income.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, reiterated that women played vital role in agricultural production, processing and marketing to boost production.
He said women had proven to be pivotal in farm production and better managers of farm enterprises.
“When you empower women, they empower the family; any family that is empowered, turn out to empowered the community.
“If you give women N20, 000, it will have a multiplier effect in terms of welfare, nutrition and health of the family; therefore, women need to be supported, empowered in their area of strength,’’ he said.
Abdullahi, who identified some of the challenges affecting women in food production as processing, marketing and storage, assured of the ministry’s commitment to support them in mitigating these challenges.
Ms Beatrice Eyang, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, identified training of women as central to food security and end to poverty.
Eyang said the need of women and children should be prioritised in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to her, Nigeria is not on track in SDG five which focuses on gender equality and women empowerment.
She identified some of the challenges of women as lack of access to land, market, information, among others.
According to her, there is need for women to be provided easy access to finance, markets, and information, as well as promoting climate-smart agriculture and digital platforms.
NAN reports that the high point of the event was the presentation of certificates to youth and women in agriculture for their contributions to food production.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
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