UNESCO Urge Nigeria Govt to Empower Young Women in Agriculture to Tackle Food Insecurity

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has emphasized the significance of empowering young women in agriculture as a vital step towards restoring food availability.

The President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, conveyed this message during his speech in Abuja on Saturday, where he highlighted the urgent need for addressing food security issues in the country.

President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security due to inflation in food items caused by insecurity in the North-East, North-West, and South-East regions has brought the criticality of the situation to the forefront.

Mr. Ladigbolu stressed the importance of prioritizing agricultural integration as a means to tackle these challenges effectively. He emphasized that women play a pivotal role in agricultural integration, which has the potential to lead the country towards achieving ‘zero hunger’.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), women currently constitute 43 percent of the global agricultural workforce, and this number increases to over 60 percent in the least developed countries.

Despite their significant contributions to agricultural development, women still face obstacles such as limited access to technologies, information, resources, and finance for their agricultural activities worldwide.

In response to these challenges, UNESCO REF, in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, has launched an agricultural initiative named Strategic Intervention Programme-ALPHA (SIP-ALPHA) to address the shortcomings in food supplies in the country.

Through this initiative, the organization aims to empower young women in agriculture by providing them with the necessary support and resources. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the substantial attainment of the United Nations’ global goal, particularly goal two, which aims to achieve “zero hunger” by 2030.

Mr. Ladigbolu emphasized the timeliness of launching the Young Women in Agriculture in Nigeria initiative, considering the pressing issue of food insecurity in the country. By recognizing the essential role women play in agriculture, this initiative aims to make a positive and sustainable impact on food availability and security.

Empowering young women in agriculture is not only crucial for achieving food security but also essential for overall agricultural development. By providing them with the necessary tools, knowledge, and support, we can foster a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector, leading the way towards a future with “zero hunger” in Nigeria and beyond.