Home News ‘Empower Women in Agriculture to Sustain Nigeria’s Economic Growth’ -UBA CMD 

‘Empower Women in Agriculture to Sustain Nigeria’s Economic Growth’ -UBA CMD 

by AgroNigeria

The Group Managing Director and CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Oliver Alawuba, has stressed the role of empowering women in agriculture as a way to sustain Nigeria’s economic growth. 

Alawuba made this assertion during his address at the EMPOWER HER program held in Abuja, where he noted that women constitute over 70% of the agricultural workforce in Nigeria, playing a central role in food security and the development of rural communities. 

Despite their contributions, many female farmers are confronted with obstacles such as inadequate access to finance, land ownership, and modern technology.

“Empowering women is key to improving food security, reducing poverty, and fostering a more inclusive economy,” Alawuba remarked. He referenced data from the National Bureau of Statistics, which demonstrates that women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population and are deeply involved in agriculture, especially in rural regions.

According to Alawuba, “empowering women is not just a moral obligation; it is an economic necessity. Providing women with resources, education, and access to justice enables them to become agents of change, positively impacting their families, communities, and the nation at large.” He reiterated that when women are empowered, the ripple effects benefit all sectors of society.

Within UBA, Alawuba explained, the bank has consistently championed gender equality and women’s empowerment “Across our 24 countries of presence, we have actively embraced the potential and leadership of women, not just in words but in actions.

With close to 50 per cent female representation on our Board, 40 per cent of Senior Management roles held by women and an impressive 59 per cent of our Graduate Management Trainees being female, we are truly leading the charge for gender equality in the corporate world,” he said.

He further shared that UBA has developed specialized loan products for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are led by or owned by women, ensuring a considerable portion of its working capital loans support these enterprises. 

This focus is part of the bank’s strategy to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment for women.

In his speech, Alawuba emphasized that true empowerment requires equipping women to fully engage in every sector of society, from agriculture to technology, and from leadership roles to entrepreneurial ventures. 

He stressed that this effort must also include ensuring access to healthcare, legal protection, and educational opportunities.

Alawuba concluded by stating that the responsibility of empowering women should not rest solely on the government. 

He called for a joint effort from individuals, civil society organizations, development partners, and the private sector to play an active role in driving women’s empowerment.

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