No fewer than 200 women in Ebonyi have been empowered by the United Nations agency, UN Women.
UN women distributed fertilizers, improved rice seedlings to the rural women.
Besides, it also launched a Low-cost Biogas Production Project.
These initiatives support food security, boost productivity, and improve household incomes, aligning with Nigeria’s economic goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13).
UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, highlighted the importance of these initiatives during her address. “UN Women is excited to continue to support women in the rice value chain as part of a larger programme on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA),” she said. “This programme directly supports Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present government, aimed at restoring growth, investing in the nation’s people, and building a globally competitive economy through investments in the agricultural sector.”
Since many years ago, we have been farming from hand to mouth, but today our farming is in business”, one of the women farmers said. Another beneficiaryadded that “… this support will improve the lives of women and girls.”
In addition to supporting agricultural growth, UN Women is also launching a Low-cost Biogas Household Production Project in Ebonyi State. This innovative project aims to empower rural women by providing a sustainable and clean energy source, reducing reliance on fuelwood and its associated health risks.
The event held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, was also an opportunity to strengthen advocacy and awareness around the biogas technology. In August2024, 250 beneficiaries were already trained on its use and maintenance. Training for local artisans and agricultural extension workers will continue to ensure the sustainability of the project.
As part of its ongoing commitment to rural women’s empowerment, UN Women is calling for increased government partnership and funding to expand the biogas project’s reach. “We hope to collaborate with the government to ensure that more rural women benefit from this transformative technology,” said Ms. Eyong.
UN Women’s efforts reflect a commitment to rural development and women’s empowerment, addressing economic challenges and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both women and their communities.
UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Agriculture, Human Capital Development, and Environment, Traditional Rulers from Ebonyi state, and women rice farmers, beneficiaries from the fertilizer and rice seedling project.
UN Women is the UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, dedicated to promoting women’s rights and economic participation across Nigeria and beyond.