The Deputy Director-General of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Kenton Dashiell, has emphasized the need for proper mentorship and training to empower women in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop for the Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship (WATEA) initiative in Ibadan, Dashiell stated that many women lack exposure to the opportunities in agriculture, which discourages them from participating.
The WATEA initiative, organized by IITA in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria, aims to train 3,000 women in Kwara, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Anambra, and Oyo states.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting women and youth in agriculture, noting that Nigeria’s agricultural sector holds significant potential for economic growth and employment generation.
Similarly, the French Embassy’s Regional Counsellor for Agriculture, Dr. Sonia Darracq, highlighted the growing demand for skilled agrifood technicians, stressing that WATEA would create employment and revitalize the agricultural sector.
State officials, including the Jigawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Adisat AbdulWahab, and the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, called for an expansion of the initiative to benefit grassroots women and enhance agribusiness development.
Other commissioners and stakeholders from Enugu, Anambra, Kano, and Oyo states also expressed support for the project, underscoring the need for sustainable interventions to empower women in agriculture.
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