WOMEN’S AFFAIRS SECRETARIAT COMMISSIONS BOREHOLE AND WORK SHADE FOR CASSAVA PROCESSING IN KWALI
By: Dominic Idio
As part of its continued efforts to stimulate the agro-business value chain in Nigeria’s Federal Capital, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, in collaboration with UN Women Nigeria, has commissioned a Borehole and Work Shade for processing of cassava by Sheda women in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
The intervention is aimed at empowering the Akpu Women Association in Sheda, as part of efforts by the government towards improving the standards of processing cassava into a staple food called “akpu”.
This effort would ultimately help reposition the agro-business for visibility and competitiveness amidst the global campaign for food security.
Speaking during the commissioning, Mandate Secretary of FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, appreciated the UN Women Nigeria for its roles in empowering women in the rural communities, underscoring the strategic significance of the borehole and work shade project, as a viable empowerment initiative that has already rebranded the entire procedural engagements of processing cassava into “akpu”.
She expressed profound gratitude to the Hon. Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike and the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud for the support given to the Women Affairs Secretariat in order to reach out to rural women, with positive impacts at the grassroot.
“We are deeply privileged to welcome everyone to this commissioning, a milestone representing not just community development, but dignity restored, livelihood strengthened and a future re-imagined for the women of great Sheda community here in Kwali.
“What we are witnessing today is a product of support and collaboration. I therefore express our profound gratitude to the Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and the UN Women, for all the support given to actualize this project”, Adedayo said.
Performing the commissioning, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda explained the pivotal role of UN Women, whose mission and vision revolve around championing the course of improving livelihood for women around the world, especially those in the rural communities.
Her words, “Provision of portable water is very important in communal living, and water is economic empowerment. Therefore, we, at the UN Women are pleased that we are able to join you today, in order to contribute in our own small way to empower women in this community”, Nyaradzayi stated.
Earlier, the Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness Luka Ayedoo Nizassan, had commended the UN Women, for partnering FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, to “attack the indices of poverty” in rural communities.
The royal father believed that the intervention is a sure way to “scale up” the fortunes of Sheda women “who have used this business to train their children in schools”. He also called for judicious use of the facility, to enhance sustainability in the new approach to cassava processing in the community.
Prior to the Commissioning, over 150 members of the Akpu Women Association had undergone training on Economic and Entrepreneural Accountability Systems. The training which was also facilitated by UN Women and FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, was a preparatory module to impact knowledge, mould and adapt the women to contemporary business administration strategies.
Abuja Digest reports that this flagship commissioning represents the expansion of frontiers in cassava processing businesses, not only for Sheda women but for the entire value chain of women-led agro entrepreneurship in the Federal Capital Territory. Expectedly, the Sheda cassava processing facility would soon become a hub for packaging and exporting branded and hygienic “akpu” to other countries of the world.
