To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Nigerian government, and other critical stakeholders have launched a mobilisation campaign towards achieving the target of 12 million young women in agriculture in Nigeria.
The initiative, Young Women in Agriculture (YWA), themed “Enhancing the Economic Value of Nigerian Women through Agricultural Value Chain,” is a strategic intervention of the Read and Earn Federation for UNESCO (UNESCO REF), designed to empower women and youth, enabling them to contribute significantly to food production, economic stability, and national security.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in commemoration of the 2025 United Nations International Women’s Day in Abuja, UNESCO REF President and National Coordinator, Young Women in Agriculture, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, identified the place of women and young girls as well as the pivotal role of agriculture in the attainment of sustainable economic growth for the country.
He explained that the project aims to ensure the mobilisation of 12 million Nigerian women, 2 million from each of the six geopolitical zones of the Federation, to contribute to food and nutrition security, mitigate national security threats through a non-kinetic approach, and promote economic growth through agribusiness.
The project duration is for four years (2024 to 2027) initially, with the possibility of continuation for an additional three years (2028 to 2030).
Ladigbolu lamented that the economy of Nigeria, majorly depends on the oil and gas sector and that one of the damaging impacts has been the long, steady decline of the country’s agricultural sector.
“The issues of food insecurity in Nigeria have had a profound and cascading impact on various aspects of the nation, exacerbating the poverty rate, contributing to a surge in the number of out-of-school children, and posing a significant threat to national security,” he stated.
He noted that the flag-off of the 12 million YWA champion mobilisation campaign ceremony represents more than just a formal start, saying this symbolises the birth of a movement—a movement that recognises and celebrates the strength, resilience, and determination of women.
“It’s a commitment to empower ourselves and others and to build a sustainable and inclusive agricultural sector,” he added.
According to him, Nigeria has continued to rely on food imports and record outrageous increases in food prices with worsening food and nutrition insecurity.
Ladigbolu, however, highlighted the significant efforts of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the declaration of a state of emergency in food security in 2023 as a way of mobilising multi-stakeholder attention to the challenges.
On her part, the wife of the Inspector-General of Police and President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, said the empowerment of women is not only a moral imperative but also an economic and social necessity for the nation’s progress.
Mrs Egbetokun, who is also the National Advocate for the UNESCO REF, Young Women in Agriculture, revealed that the pioneer beneficiaries of the programme would commence their training this month, March 10, 2025, with an institution in the United States of America.
“Furthermore, this project will enhance the easy attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth,” she said.
She solicited more strategic support for easy goal achievement and asked all Nigerians, home and abroad, to heed the clarion call and embrace the cause of women’s development in Nigeria.
