Initiative trains women, youth leaders in agriculture, skills to engage policymakers

The Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has organized a training session for women and youth leaders on engaging with policy stakeholders to secure actionable commitments.

VCDP is working to empower rural women and youths in Nigeria’s agricultural sector by providing them with the skills and tools needed to effectively engage with policymakers.

According to Dr. Fati Aliyu, the National Coordinator of VCDP, the lack of necessary skills to engage with policymakers is a major challenge hindering the progress of these groups.

She made this statement during the training of VCDP AF1 Leaders of Women and Youth Networks on Engaging with Policy Stakeholders for Securing Actionable Commitments in Minna.

Represented by Mr. Musa Dalang, Rural Institution Gender and Youth Development Specialist, the National Coordinator explained that to address this issue, VCDP decided to organize a training session for the leaders, focusing on stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and securing actionable commitments.

She stated that the training would cover critical aspects, providing them with practical, hands-on tools and techniques to help them network with leaders.

“The training will equip them with skills to analyze stakeholder landscapes systematically and strategically, advocate professionally for the interests of their constituencies, engage constructively with government officials, traditional leaders, and private sector development partners, as well as secure actionable commitments, among other things,” she said.

“We want the leaders under VCDP to efficiently and effectively engage with stakeholders and pass their messages in a way that will gain their confidence and support for whatever they want to be addressed,” Dr. Aliyu added.

The Niger State VCDP Rural Institution Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer, Maimuna Abubakar Ahmed, said that since the formation of the groups, it has been observed that they have been unable to effectively engage with stakeholders in the state to advocate for their challenges and seek solutions. Hence, the decision to hold this training.

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Earlier, the Niger State Coordinator, Hajiya Hadizat Isah, explained that the Women and Youth Networking program is one of the strategies developed by VCDP to train leaders on stakeholder engagement. She said, “Even if VCDP is not here tomorrow, its impact will still be felt because of the training given to these leaders, who will, in turn, impact others.”

Some of the beneficiaries identified the lack of unity among the women and youth networks under VCDP in the state as one of the major issues militating against their progress.

According to them, “From what we have learned as leaders from this training, our capacity has been built on why we should speak with one voice, how to approach leaders in authority to explain our challenges and get answers, among other areas.”

The Chairperson of the Women’s Network, Taowa Mohammed, noted that the women’s group, after what they have learned, will unite to address the lack of unity and ensure effective communication among members to promote growth.

Collaborating with her, Abdullaziz Abubakar of the Youth Network A said, “After this training, we are going to meet as leaders of the Youth Network to articulate our points in order to grab the attention of the stakeholders, highlighting what we have been able to achieve and informing them of our challenges in the state.”