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Women in Agriculture Technical Education of Apprenticeship (WATEA), has emphasized the critical role women can play as drivers of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
Regional Agriculture Counsellor, Embassy of France, Dr. Sonia Darracq, made the emphasis at the closing ceremony of training on gender inclusion in agriculture held at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Dr. Darracq commended the participants for demonstrating viable skills in livestock, crop production, crop processing, and agro-business, noting that the programme had revealed a pool of talented young women and men eager to contribute meaningfully to the sector.
She also expressed appreciation to Kwara State Polytechnic for its valuable partnership with WATEA.
Speaking at the event, WATEA’s Administrative and Finance Officer, Ms. Omolara Sokera, disclosed that with support from the French Government and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture IITA, the organization has trained and empowered 300 female agricultural technicians across six states: Kano, Enugu, Kwara, Oyo, Jigawa, and Anambra.
She noted that 80% of the beneficiaries were women, reflecting WATEA’s commitment to gender equity in agricultural development.
In their separate goodwill messages, Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afeez Abolore Alabi, lauded the WATEA initiative.
They described the programme as a timely intervention that would not only boosts technical capacity but also promotes leadership and confidence among women in agriculture.
The Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the State Government for its continuous support, which he said has enabled the institution to effectively collaborate with international partners like WATEA.
The event highlighted the success of WATEA’s initiative in bridging the gender gap in agriculture and empowering the next generation of skilled professionals in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
By Abubakar Umar
