By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Women and Youth Farmers Agripreneur Regional Conference (WAYFARC) has conducted a two-day sensitization workshop for 450 women and youth in the Northwest to promote agribusiness and reduce poverty.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Arc Kabir Ibrahim, represented by the Coordinator of WAYFARC and NABG Secretary General, Mrs. Olubukola Nwaneri, stated that the workshop aimed to empower participants by showcasing the vast opportunities in agriculture as a business.
Mrs. Nwaneri emphasized that agriculture should not be seen as mere farming but as a lucrative enterprise. “Agriculture should evolve beyond subsistence farming. When you recognize agriculture as a business, it inspires greater seriousness and commitment. We want to help women and youth see the future and potential in agribusiness,” she explained.
Mrs. Nwaneri highlighted that participants do not necessarily have to be farmers to succeed in agribusiness.
“Opportunities abound in areas such as processing, marketing, offtaking, essential services, and other value chains within the agricultural sector.
“Our goal is to support and educate women and youth on accessing government and non-governmental loans, grants, and other interventions. We also focus on creating awareness, coordination, and linking farmers with value chains including producers, markets, processors, and offtakers,” she noted.
The program, she added, also facilitates partnerships, follows up on government policies, and bridges gaps when policies are made without input from agricultural stakeholders.
According to her, Jigawa State was chosen to host the Northwest regional workshop due to its significant agricultural potential and the state government’s demonstrated commitment to developing the sector.
Mrs. Nwaneri said this made Jigawa an ideal location to encourage and support women and youth to explore agribusiness opportunities.
Participants were advised to open their minds and absorb the knowledge and skills provided during the program.
“The purpose of WAYFARC is to enrich your understanding and prepare you to thrive in agribusiness,” Mrs. Nwaneri said.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of collaboration and capacity-building in driving economic growth through agriculture, particularly for women and youth who remain critical to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
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