In a bid to empower women and enhance their engagement in the agricultural value chain, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has partnered with the French Embassy to skill up 3,000 women through the Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA-Nigeria) programme.
This initiative was announced at a recent workshop hosted by both organizations at the IITA Conference Centre in Ibadan, where stakeholders from the six participating states expressed their appreciation for the program’s success and called for its expansion.
The event attracted participants from Anambra, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, and Oyo states, as well as students from several institutions, including OSCATECH, ANSPOLY, BUPOLY, ESPOLY, ABCOAS, and KawaPoly.
While addressing attendees, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Marc Fonbaluster, emphasized the embassy’s commitment to supporting WATEA-Nigeria.
He stated, “We try to respond to the requests made by your authorities (the Nigerian Government), leading us to this point. This week marks the opening session dedicated to technical education for women in the agricultural sector, reflecting France’s top priorities for Nigeria.”
He highlighted the importance of women, youth, training, and education for progress in agriculture, noting the immense potential it holds for Nigeria.
“If we consider the employability of future generations, we see vast opportunities in agriculture,” he remarked.
“If agriculture flourishes in Nigeria, there will be numerous opportunities for young people to secure jobs, earn decent incomes, and lead better lives. That is our vision.”
Fonbaluster also pointed out the project’s inclusive approach, commending the presence of stakeholders, including commissioners from six states, private sector representatives, government officials, women, men, students, and teachers.
“This collaboration shows that we are stronger together. It exemplifies France’s methodology in Nigeria, where we believe that uniting multiple parties is essential for creating impactful programs,” he said.
When asked if this was the first initiative of its kind, the Ambassador clarified: “This is not the first; we previously held a smaller event.
However, this second session is on a much larger scale. The goal is to pave the way for an upgrade that starts from the commitment of the states and the private sector.”
He revealed that the project aims to target 500 women per state initially, describing this as both an inspiring start and a model for replication.
“If we achieve 500 participants initially, it will inspire others and foster a collective dynamic involving both public and private sectors,” he added.
Dr. Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director-General of IITA, spoke at the event about the need for proper mentorship and training for women in agriculture.
He noted that while job prospects may be limited, there is a significant and growing demand for qualified agrifood technicians, offering young women opportunities for gainful employment and self-employment.
“WATEA will help address unemployment and rejuvenate the aging agricultural workforce by enhancing the employability of young people, particularly young women,” he stated.
In her virtual remarks, Ms. Zaina Sore provided an overview of the WATEA project.
She explained, “WATEA aims to train new generations of young female technicians in modern agricultural techniques, agricultural production, and farm management, in line with agroecology, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. We aim to improve the appeal of agricultural technical education and apprenticeships in Nigeria.”
She added that WATEA plans to establish formal relationships between agro-companies and technical education institutions to streamline vocational training processes, including apprenticeships, tutoring, and mentoring, thus accelerating employability.
According to Sore, the project will help identify the technical and professional skill needs of SMEs and major Nigerian and French agro-industrial groups operating in Nigeria, ensuring that training is relevant and effective.
Moreover, it aims to raise awareness among companies and institutions regarding gender equality, combating gender differences and discrimination in the agricultural sector.
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