By Abbas Nazil
BATN Foundation has empowered 200 women in Jigawa State with poultry production inputs and enterprise management training under its EMPOWER-Her Poultry Project, aimed at improving household incomes, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
The intervention was officially inaugurated on September 4, 2026, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, in collaboration with the Jigawa State Government and other development partners.
The beneficiaries received Noiler birds, poultry feed and medication after undergoing training designed to equip them with practical knowledge in poultry production and enterprise management.
The initiative is expected to enable the women to establish and manage poultry enterprises capable of generating income while contributing to improved food availability and household nutrition in their communities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Project Manager of BATN Foundation, Adetola Oniyelu, said the intervention was designed to go beyond the distribution of agricultural inputs by creating opportunities for women to develop productive businesses.
“For us, empowerment goes beyond providing inputs.
“It is about creating opportunities for women to build productive businesses, generate income, contribute to household food security and strengthen their economic resilience,” Oniyelu said.
He said supporting the beneficiaries to participate in the poultry value chain would create pathways to sustainable livelihoods while strengthening their capacity to contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families and communities.
The inauguration brought together government officials and stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon.
Muttaka Namadi; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr.
Auwalu Ado Shehu; and representatives of BATN Foundation.
Government officials at the event commended the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to manage the poultry assets responsibly and develop them into sustainable businesses capable of generating long-term value.
Poultry production provides rural women with opportunities to generate regular income through the sale of eggs, birds and other poultry products, while also contributing to household food supplies.
The project is therefore expected to provide the beneficiaries with an additional source of livelihood while strengthening their ability to meet household needs and cope with economic pressures.
Through the EMPOWER-Her Poultry Project, BATN Foundation is supporting women with productive assets and practical skills intended to strengthen their participation in agricultural enterprise development.
The intervention also highlights the role of women-focused agricultural programmes in expanding economic opportunities and strengthening livelihoods in rural communities across Jigawa State.
