Wife of Benue State Deputy Governor, Mrs Christy Ode, has said that her focus is to make at least a woman in every household in the state a great farmer.
Mrs Ode, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, said that she floated her foundation known as ‘Evergreen Women Farmers Foundation’ with the aim of making at least one woman in every household in the state, an active farmer.
She noted that Christy the foundation had been registered and will commence full activities soon.
The deputy governor’s wife said she decided to focus on agriculture because it holds the biggest capacity to create chains of opportunities for women and the youth.
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“I want women to go into farming. God has blessed our land. I am telling the women that in whatever way they can, they should help each other and encourage each other.
“We want to support women with seedlings, fertilizer and whatever we can, but the truth is that women need to come out and go into farming so that there will be enough food for the home and also for making profit,” the deputy governor’s wife said.
The deputy governor’s wife said that the initiative was her own way of supporting the efforts of Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, in placing women in the forefront of the state’s development.
“In Benue state the Governor is really trying by giving good positions to women. As you know without women, there will be no men.
“As women, we are seeking for the men take us more into everything they are doing, so that we also will be strong,” she added.
Ode said women had shown that they were a force to reckon with in politics as they provide the biggest political base in the country.
According to her, “When it is election day, the women are everywhere and when they tell you yes, their yes is yes, so we asking those in leadership positions to carry the women along.”
She said that though as Christians and Muslims, the religion places women under the men, but it’s important to encourage women to contribute to every facet of societal growth and development.
“We don’t have to go across what we are not supposed to do; we are trying our best to work together as a team, to be humble so that the men will understand us better and the religion will accept us the way we are.”
She advised women in politics and other sectors, saying, “to support each other and be your sisters keepers, so that we can grow stronger than the way we are now”.
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