NGO task women on agricultural production
NGO task women on agricultural production
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Women
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Society for Empowerment and Self Reliance (SESER), an NGO, on Friday advised African women to be actively engaged in agricultural production using various gender and youth agricultural intervention programmes.
The society gave the advice in a communique signed by the National Coordinator, SESER, Mrs Rosemary Effiong, after a three-day All Africa Women Summit in Abuja.
The theme of the summit was: “Power of Negotiation: The Role of Women in Political Leadership, Economic Development and Peace Building”.
The theme was inspired by the Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security, which commits countries to 10 per cent national budget allocation to agricultural development, in view of women’s critical role in agricultural production in Africa.
It stated that agricultural intervention programmes should be supported by ECOWAS, research institutions, and international agencies and NGOs.
“That food security and wealth creation by women is the best assurance to mitigate in conflict situation and ensure peace building.
“African women should start small scale business and grow steadily, avoiding loans and borrowing schemes offered by commercial banks that they are not in comfortable positions to utilise due to the harsh terms and conditions.
“Women were advised to explore facilities offered by development banking facilities like the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and other institutions that offer interest-free facilities,” it said.
However, the communique said women organisations should be encouraged to partner with relevant international agencies and NAPTIP to stop girl child trafficking and abuse.
It also urged African women to participate in politics without fear or intimidation from male gender.
“It was agreed that there should be collaboration with National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies Nigeria to create short, medium- and long-term courses for African women to build capacity and preparedness to excel in legislative and democratic activities.
“The summit resolved to put in place a platform to stimulate and create passion in African women to make education their first, second and third priority in life just as male gender are curious for it thereby building capacity for political, economic, social and emotional development.
“The summit also agreed to create All African Women Summit Platform to support women seeking elective offices and for sharing information among partners regarding grants, interventions, conferences, seminars, among others,” it stated.
The communique added that the Project G5 which stand for ‘Girls Grow, Groomed into Good Governance’ be adopted as a national programme by the Government of Nigeria and included in the United Nations frame work for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola