FCTA COMMENCE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN ON CASSAVA PROCESSING
By: Dominic Idio
In furtherance of its mandate, the Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the empowerment of over 150 women in agro-business at the Sheda Community of the Kwali Area Council in the Territory.
The empowerment initiative focuses on harnessing the entrepreneurial skills of women in processing cassava into a staple food commodity commonly called “akpu” in local parlance, aiming to train, rebrand, and project the “akpu” processing business of the Sheda women for international relevance.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the empowerment programme held at the Sheda Cassava Processing Zone in Kwali, Mandate Secretary of FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike is committed to empowering FCT women across the six area councils of the Territory, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
“We are here to strengthen women, improve food security and enhance overall well-being of FCT residents, through strategic empowerment of Sheda women, in the business of processing ‘akpu’ with improved skills, improved standards of hygiene, as well as branded packaging for export purposes.
“That is why we are here to give you a reliable source of clean water and a standard work shed. We shall also commence training of these women by next week,” Dr. Adedayo said.
Representative of UN Women at the occasion, Mrs. Beatrice Enyong noted that the empowerment seeks to build capacity towards enhancing food security in Nigeria. Mrs. Enyong who was represented by the Acting Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Ekeoba, believed that the empowerment would address certain challenges faced by the women, in relation to agro entrepreneurship, income generation and self-sufficiency.
In her words, “I want to begin by commending the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat for launching this bold and holistic initiative, which aims to create a lasting community-driven process for women, families and the local economy.”
“This project seeks to address several urgent challenges in our communities. Among them are lack of access to entrepreneurship training, low participation in an organised economic activity, poor access to clean water and sanitation, limited skills for managing small businesses, and the persistent burden for women to provide for their families with little structural support,” Mrs Ekeoba explained.
The empowerment initiative was well-received by the traditional hierarchy of Kwali, as well as the youths, who trooped out in their numbers to attend the event.
Analysts have speculated a sudden and unprecedented economic boom within and around Sheda Community, if the scope of the empowerment is implemented with sincerity of purpose.
Highlights of the programme was a brief groundbreaking ceremony for immediate construction of a standard work shed and sinking of borehole to assist the women in their agro entrepreneurship.
The empowerment which was initiated in collaboration with UN Women Nigeria, is expected to activate positive impact on cassava processing value chain in the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria at large.
