By Faridat Salifu
Industry experts say gender inclusion is increasingly being treated as a growth driver rather than a corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s agro-commodities sector.
Helen Ogboh, Vice President of Business Growth and Enterprise Optimization at Sunbeth Global Concepts, highlighted the role of women in improving decision-making, innovation and team performance across the value chain.
She said companies that intentionally attract, retain and develop female talent are better positioned to compete and scale sustainably.
Ogboh noted that women remain underrepresented in trading, logistics and production, despite strong participation in farming and informal agribusiness.
She said societal stereotypes and a lack of visible role models contribute to the limited pipeline of women in technical and leadership roles.
She said mentoring, training, and showcasing successful women can help rebuild the talent pipeline in the sector.
Ogboh said Sunbeth partners with professional networks, invests in leadership programs, and nurtures internal systems to remove barriers for women.
She said the company also promotes flexible work arrangements and supportive policies to ensure inclusion goes beyond recruitment.
Experts say policies that increase women’s access to finance, training, and value-chain integration have the most impact on boosting gender inclusion.
Ogboh said initiatives that strengthen women’s participation not only benefit employees but also improve productivity and competitiveness across the sector.
She said mentorship and structured support are especially critical in commodities, where formal career frameworks are limited.
Industry stakeholders say deliberate inclusion efforts could help transform Nigeria’s agro-commodities sector over the next decade.
They said a fully inclusive workforce would see women and underrepresented groups represented at all levels, from field operations to management and board positions.
Leaders are encouraged to set inclusion targets, build talent pipelines, and lead by example to accelerate gender balance in the industry.
