The Nigeria Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) has dissociated itself from the membership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN).
Briefing Newsmen in Abuja today, Farmer Omolara Svensson, national coordinator/president of the Initiative said the reason for the dissociation was a result of the poor inclusion of women as well as the long-term leadership tussle of AFAN which had handicapped the growth of the agric sector.
The National Coordinator who said the decision for the dissociation was not taken lightly, said it was however necessary due to two primary concerns:
According to Farmer Omolara “After careful consideration and deliberation, the Nigeria Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAP) has decided to dissociate from AFAN.
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The woman noted that In the history of Nigeria as a Nation, unlike other sectors that have their women wings such as the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists( NAWOJ), there has never been a women’s wing of the Nigerian which explains a lot where we are as a nation, despite women making up over 70% of the agricultural workforce.
The President noted “The poor inclusion of women in AFAN’s activities and the ongoing leadership tussles within the organization, which she had tried to address during her tenure as Head of Women in Agriculture for the Oyo State AFAN chapter.
“Despite numerous efforts to resolve these complicated issues, we have found it necessary to redirect our energy and resources to NWAP.” She said
Noting that NWAP was established as the first and foremost NIGERIAN organization exclusively for women involved in the agricultural sector, spanning production, processing, trade, and commerce.
“Unlike AFAN and similar organizations, NWAP is uniquely focused on empowering and supporting women in agriculture across Nigeria. Our mission is to ensure that women have a significant and influential role in shaping the agricultural landscape of our country. However, despite our efforts, we have observed a persistent lack of meaningful inclusion and recognition of women within AFAN, undermining our core objectives and the progress we strive to achieve.” she said
“Additionally, the continuous leadership disputes within AFAN have created an unstable and counterproductive environment. These internal conflicts have hampered effective collaboration and progress, making it increasingly challenging for NWAP to fulfil its mandate under such circumstances,” she added.
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Farmer Omolara Svensson stated that as of today, NWAP is the only registered and authorized women-only agricultural initiative in Nigeria. This position underscores our commitment to creating a focused, inclusive, and progressive platform for women in agriculture. By standing independently, we believe we can more effectively advocate for the interests of women farmers and drive meaningful change within the agricultural sector.
She added that as part of its achievements, NWAP will continue to work tirelessly to support and uplift women in agriculture through various programs, initiatives, and advocacy efforts. We remain dedicated to our vision of a robust and inclusive agricultural sector where women play a leading and decisive role.
She maintained that NWAP remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering women in agriculture and contributing to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s agricultural industry.
