By Abbas Nazil
A female-led non-governmental organization, Great Brave Women (GBW), has trained over 420 schoolgirls across eight Lagos schools in agriculture, environmental sustainability, and life skills as part of an ongoing grassroots empowerment initiative aimed at shaping the next generation of female agricultural leaders.
The training programme, which began in June 2025, was executed in six public and two private schools and combined hands-on farming demonstrations with classroom lessons on sustainable agricultural practices.
The Lagos State Coordinator of GBW, Alhaja Omotayo Atoba, who also serves as the state coordinator for Nigerian Women in Agriculture, revealed that the programme was born from the shared vision and personal sacrifices of women farmers determined to equip girls with practical tools for self-reliance.
She emphasized the importance of wider support from state and local governments as well as the private sector to expand the reach and impact of the initiative.
Atoba stated that empowering young girls in agriculture not only strengthens food security but also builds stronger communities and economies.
Speaking during the programme, Mrs. Yetunde Olaniyan, an accountant and experienced farmer with expertise in eight agricultural fields, said the training covered poultry, aquaculture, crop cultivation, and handcrafts.
She noted that one of the core objectives was to meaningfully engage the girls, ensuring they acquired not just agricultural skills but also a new appreciation for time management and livelihood development.
To reinforce learning, a quiz competition was held, allowing the participants to demonstrate knowledge retention and application of sustainable practices such as using aquaculture wastewater to irrigate crops and converting poultry waste into organic fertilizer.
This “waste to wealth” concept was a central theme throughout the training.
According to Olaniyan, the programme concluded with a recognition ceremony celebrating outstanding students.
As part of the empowerment phase, some participants received practical starter kits including live catfish and feed, hens with poultry feed, eco-friendly pesticides, and watering cans — enabling them to put their new skills to use and potentially start small-scale agricultural ventures at home.
She added that the entire initiative was driven solely by the personal contributions of the women involved, without any financial backing from external organizations or government bodies.
She called on the public and private sectors to collaborate with GBW to scale the project and reach more girls across Nigeria.
One of the students, Dorcas Olaniyan, shared her positive experience, stating that agriculture had taught her the value of resourcefulness and lifelong learning.
She urged fellow students to embrace similar opportunities and use their time wisely.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that GBW plans to resume the programme in September when schools reopen, with the goal of institutionalizing agricultural education for girls at the grassroots level.
Goodwill messages were sent by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and other senior government officials who praised the initiative and encouraged continued support for its expansion.
