By Pius Awunah
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Women Nigeria, has commissioned a borehole and work shade for cassava processing for Sheda women in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT to boost the production of Fufu (Akpu).
It is part of the Secretariat’s continued efforts to stimulate the agro-business value chain in the Nigeria’s Federal Capital City(FCC).
The intervention is also aimed at empowering the Fufu (Akpu) Women Association in Sheda as part of efforts by the government towards improving the standards of processing cassava into a staple food.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Mandate Secretary of FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, appreciated the United Nations (UN) Women Nigeria for its roles in empowering women in the rural communities, underscoring the strategic significance of the borehole and work shade project, as a viable empowerment initiative that has already rebranded the entire procedural engagements of processing cassava into Fufu.
She said the effort would ultimately help reposition the agro-business for visibility and competitiveness amidst the global campaign for food security.
The Secretary expressed profound gratitude to the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike and the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud for the support given to the Women Affairs Secretariat to reach out to rural women, with positive impacts at the grassroots.
Also,speaking,the United Nations (UN) Women Deputy Executive Director, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda explained the pivotal role of the UN Women, whose mission and vision revolve around championing the course of improving livelihood for women around the world, especially those in the rural communities.
“Provision of portable water is very important in communal living, and water is economic empowerment.
“Therefore, we, at the UN Women, are pleased that we are able to join you today, to contribute in our own small way to empower women in this community”,Gumbonzvanda stated.
Earlier, the Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness Luka Ayedoo Nizassan, had commended the UN Women for partnering the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat to “attack the indices of poverty” in rural communities.
The royal father noted that the intervention is a sure way to “scale up” the fortunes of Sheda women “who have used this business to train their children in schools”.
He called for judicious use of the facility to enhance sustainability in the new approach to cassava processing in the community.
Prior to the Commissioning, over 150 members of the Fufu Women Association had undergone training on Economic and Entrepreneural Accountability Systems.
The training, which was also facilitated by UN Women and FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, was a preparatory module to impact knowledge, mould and adapt the women to contemporary business administration strategies.
