FG, UNESCO roll out specialised urban agriculture training for women

The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Education Fund (REF) and the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Lagos State Chapter, has launched a Urban Agriculture Training Programme in Lagos State. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the Lagos agricultural food […]

The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Education Fund (REF) and the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Lagos State Chapter, has launched a Urban Agriculture Training Programme in Lagos State.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the Lagos agricultural food system while empowering women through innovation, sustainability, and financial inclusion, with a strong focus on urban farming as a viable economic pathway.
Speaking at the formal inauguration, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, Barr. Yejide Ogundipe, reaffirmed the programme’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that women farmers must be recognised as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s food security drive.
She explained that the programme, themed “Seed of Empowerment: Growing Women in Lagos,” is structured to equip women with the tools, skills, and opportunities required to succeed in urban agriculture. According to her, the initiative aligns with the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) and is directly linked to the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos Programme launched in July 2025.
Ogundipe added that participants are guaranteed steady income flows every two to three weeks, ensuring that empowerment translates into measurable financial stability for households. She also disclosed plans to scale up the bespoke programme in 2026, with a target of reaching at least 120,000 women across all local governments and LCDAs in Lagos State.
Also speaking, President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, emphasised that the initiative is focused on empowerment rather than charity, saying, “Philanthropy provides immediate relief, but capacity building empowers individuals to achieve financial freedom and long-term sustainability. What we are launching today is designed to transform lives and communities.”
He noted that beyond Lagos, there are plans to extend the programme across the federation to ensure women in all states benefit from sustainable agricultural empowerment and contribute meaningfully to the national food system.
In her remarks, POWA Chairperson, Lagos State, Mrs. Risqat Jimoh, highlighted the far-reaching impact of women’s empowerment, describing the initiative as one that strengthens families, communities, and Lagos State’s food system.
“Each participant would receive a Tier 2 certificate, which not only recognizes training but also guarantees subsidized entry for their children into future agricultural programmes.
“This ensures that empowerment becomes generational, extending benefits beyond immediate participants.
“To ensure participants can immediately apply their training, each woman received varieties of seeds to kickstart their learning and farming practice. This practical support guarantees that the programme moves beyond theory into real, hands-on empowerment, enabling participants to begin cultivating produce right away”.
A participant and beneficiary, Aisha Abiola Sanni, described the programme as “an alternative means for financial income,” noting that as a youth corps member, the opportunity positions her to save towards completing her service year and planning for the future.
The initiative is supported by partners including NIHORT, IAR&T, The Lichfield, Op3n Labs USA, and Women’s Space USA, among others, under UNESCO REF’s Strategic Intervention Programme – Alpha Category 2 Framework. Organisers noted that improved household financial stability is a strong deterrent to crime, positioning the programme as both an economic and social intervention, as well as a viable CSR model for corporate partners.