In a groundbreaking move to uplift women and stimulate economic growth, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has forged a strategic partnership with Atlanta – Georgia, to cultivate and export Sunflower and Jatropha Curcas.
The Honourable Minister, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye made the disclosure today at a 2-day Capacity Building Workshop for Commissioners of Women Affairs organized by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, in collaboration with UN Women and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
This innovative move, spearheaded by the Minister, aims to raise capital for small-scale women-owned businesses, alleviate poverty, and create job opportunities, while also contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
She stated that the partnership will enable the production and exportation of Sunflower and Jatropha Curcas plants, with a focus on raising capital for women to run their small-scale businesses.
The Minister stated further that the initiative is also targeted at alleviating poverty and creating job opportunities for women.
“The medicinal plants will be cultivated in designated dams, with the realized profits shared among participants”, she added.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye informed that the Ministry has written to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for land space in all the dams for seven years to enable women embark on the project, and is liaising with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the provision of dams for the cultivation of the plants.
As the Ministry of Women Affairs embarks on this pioneering project, a brighter future unfolds for Nigerian women. By harnessing the potential of Sunflower and Jatropha Curcas, the country is poised to witness a significant reduction in poverty, a surge in women’s empowerment, and a boost to the national economy.
With the Ministry’s dedication and the support of partners like Atlanta, this initiative is set to leave a lasting impact, inspiring a new generation of women entrepreneurs and contributing to a more prosperous Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
In another development, Kennedy-Ohanenye called on State Commissioners of Women Affairs to complement the Ministry’s efforts towards alleviating the suffering of women at the grassroots through the immediate usage of the sustainable empowerment equipment earlier distributed to them like industrial sewing machines, rice, garri and cassava processing machines.
She observed that if these equipment which have been distributed to 16 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are put to use through the recognised cooperative societies in the areas, it will go a long way in trabdorming the lives of women in the States.
The Minister commended the UN Women for its avowed commitment to gender equality in the country noting that the Workshop will further sensitize women on the need to strive harder until a greater percentage take their position in governance and decision making positions in the country.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Director General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), Dr. Asabe Bashir called for concerted efforts by governments at all levels to enable women realize their full potentials in line with global realities.
She stressed the need for strengthening of institutions and systems that support women’s empowerment while making deliberate efforts to promote gender sensitive policies and programmes.
Also speaking, the UN Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms Beatrice Eyong stated that proactive measures must be taken to upscale the funding of the Ministries of Women Affairs in the country in order to enhance their coordination mandate.
Represented by Mr. Zephaniah Aura, she charged the gender in the various fields of endeavour to deploy their soft skills of leadership, advocacy and lobbying, among others, to ensure the establishment of the Resource Centres in all States of the Federation so as to ensure more sensitization and knowledge creation on the need to occupy decision making positions in the country.
Signed
Mrs. Grace Njoku
Head, Information and Public Relations
