Women, major drive of diversification agenda, says group

National Council for Women Societies has said women remain indispensable in the economy diversification agenda of the federal government. Speaking at an award event organized to celebrate women in agriculture, the president of NCWS, Gloria Shoda said women are fully involved in agricultural production at all levels and remain the backbone of the sector in […]

National Council for Women Societies has said women remain indispensable in the economy diversification agenda of the federal government.

Speaking at an award event organized to celebrate women in agriculture, the president of NCWS, Gloria Shoda said women are fully involved in agricultural production at all levels and remain the backbone of the sector in Nigeria especially in the rural areas.

While commending the women’s resilience and diligence in promoting agriculture as a business, Shode called on women to seize the ample opportunities that abound in agro-processing, which she described as the money spinner of the sector.

"We know for several decades women have been fully involved in agriculture production at all levels and as a matter of fact form the backbone of the sector in Nigeria especially in the rural areas," she said.

However, the last few years has seen an upswing in the direction of agriculture as ‘new oil’. This has seen a renewed vigour and energy on the part of women to be a part of the new  wave of interest in agribusiness,” she said.

The NCWS president called on government at all levels to support women by making funds available and including them in programmes such as credit facilities, inputs, start-up support, training and other forms of empowerment.

Presenting the awards to the awardees, Shode said the awards signify and recognize that women always demonstrate resilience and hope in whatever they do, urging them to remain focused and dedicated to the cause of economic diversification agenda of the federal government.

Some of the recipients of the Awards were the First Ladies of Niger state, Amina Bello, Borno state, Nana Shettima, River state, Justice Eberechi Nyesome Wike, Sokoto state, Maryam Mairo Tambuwal, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan among others