It’s new dawn for Nigerian female farmers – Omolara Svensson

Omolara Svensson, The managing director of OOK Farms has encouraged every Nigerian woman to embrace farming and transform agriculture in the country.

Svensson, who is the President of Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative, also called for greater attention to female farmers’ plight, emphasising their critical role in the country’s food security.

In an event held in Lagos recently, Svensson said female farmers in Nigeria have inadequate infrastructure and support structures, and many of them operate without access to essential tools, modern farming techniques, or viable markets for their produce and this ought to be addressed.

“The year 2024 was a year of resilience. In 2025, we are stepping up. Every Nigerian woman is a farmer by heritage. Together, we can transform agriculture into a sustainable source of wealth and stability for our nation,” she began.
Interestingly, Svensson and her team are grooming the youths – male and female – in the same line.”

At the event, Svensson unveiled specific strategic plans and progressive initiatives to transform the agricultural sector with collaborations with established investors and giving total attention to the welfare of female farmers in Nigeria.

Speaking during the chat, Svensson highlighted the pivotal role of women in ensuring food security and economic stability across the country. She further emphasised the significant contributions of women, who constitute approximately 90% of the workforce in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

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Reiterating the role of every woman in the agricultural value chain, regardless of their direct involvement in farming, Svensson said, “You don’t have to go to the farm to be a farmer. From market trading to processing, every step of the value chain is vital and we are all farmers.”

With the attendance of some of the key coordinators in South West, South East, South South, and North Central, the NWAPDI’s national president unveiled ambitious plans for 2025, aimed at leveraging technology to propel Nigeria’s agricultural sector to global standards.

For starters, the NWAPDI national president revealed that technology gadgets will be made available for members of the initiative in batches as this will help all members apply technology to achieve maximum success in 2025 and beyond.

Some of the key initiatives, which excited Svensson during the chat, include: AgriCert, an escrow account with the Isle of Man government designed to bridge gaps between off-takers and farmers, enhancing commodity exports.

Another initiative is the FarmHer Project, which is set to launch in early 2025. FarmHer Project is an initiative, which according to Svensson, promises to revolutionise the agricultural landscape with advanced technology and sustainable practices.

The organisation also unveiled plans to introduce a ‘Real-Time Farming App,’ a cutting-edge tool designed to provide farmers with traceability, crop monitoring, real-time weather updates, and market information.

According to her, “The app will revolutionise the agricultural landscape by enhancing decision-making and boosting efficiency.”