NGO emphasises women’s role in nation’s economic, social wellbeing

…organises agricultural field trip for female agropreneurs

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Healthy Living and Women Empowerment Initiative (HELWEI), has emphasised the role of women in the economic and social development of the country.

The group also organised an excursion for interested female agropreneurs in Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Alimosho, Lagos State.

The excursion, which was tagged, ‘Agricultural Field Trip,’ was held recently in Fish Farm Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

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Ebere Okey-Onyema, executive director of HELWEI, who spoke to BusinessDay, said that the roles of the women folk in the economic and social wellbeing of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

Okey-Onyema said that the trip was organised to expose participants to the latest agricultural technologies across the value chain, more market channels, first hand information on more effective production methods, practical record keeping and its essence as a tool to measure profits or losses, and also created an opportunity for knowledge sharing on best practices.
She reiterated the need for enhanced support for women in the agro-value chain.

Okey-Onyema also said that food security, which is physical, social and economic access to nutritious food at all times, would invariably contribute to the reduction of financial vulnerability for women, restlessness and crimes in the nation.

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“Empowering women in the area of food security would be contributing to addressing SDGs of Zero Hunger and No Poverty by 2030,” she said.

The head of the Farm Estate, Olufemi Oniyide, deputy director, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, welcomed the participants and explained that the estate is a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Oniyide said that it was meant to contribute to the protein needs of the teeming Lagos population and the GDP of the state.
The participants were conducted round the fish farm with support from Osho Gbolahan, assistant director, Ministry of Local Government.
The Fish Farm Estate is sitting on 34 hectares, with over 300 farmers, some of who are into smoking, feed manufacturing, distributing, among others.

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The excited participants, who also visited poultry farms and vegetable farms within the estate, said it was a good platform to network and gain new knowledge on farming. The participants were shown several facilities in the farm including various types of ponds and fish-smoking machines.

HELWEI is implementing the project in collaboration with Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP) with support from ActionAid Nigeria and funding from Global Affairs Canada under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nig. (WVL) Project.