USAID, Africa lead seek women participation in Agribusiness

The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and Africa Lead is building the capacity of Women in Nigeria through training in entrepreneurial skills to develop long-term activities to strengthen institution as a way to increased agricultural productivity along the value chain.

Speaking in Abuja during the graduation of agribusiness and entrepreneurship development short course forwomen at the weekend, the representative of USAID in Nigeria, Ekpo Bar, stated that empowering women is the best way to create sufficiency in agribusiness.

According to her, “when you empower women and make sure they have something to do, they, in turn, take care of the family and the society at large”. She added that the training which is in phases is targeted towards empowering as many women as possible with entrepreneurship skills in agribusiness.

Africa Lead training coach, Lilian Adegbola said the goal of the entrepreneurship and agribusiness development short-course is to develop the capacity of women entrepreneurs in agribusiness identification, planing and management in order to strengthen start-ups and expand existing enterprises.

Participants at the agribusiness course said the training were so insightful as many entrepreneurship skills have been unveiled which will change their way of handling agribusiness.

Lola Dauda, a participant said she has learnt financial management from the training. “Here I have learnt to separate business money from house keeping money”.

Another participant, Akande Adebisi, also said the programme has broadened her understanding of doing business. “Now I know it is wrong to take business money and spend on children’s school fees”.

She urged the organisations to reach more women in order to create more awareness and liberate many agribusinesses in the country.