Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presented laptops, cash, and certificates to 26 young female fish farmers in Kano as part of an initiative aimed at fostering female entrepreneurs in agricultural value chains.
The presentation occurred during the closing ceremony of a 5-day empowerment program for women and youth in modern agriculture in Kano.
Dr. Mahmoud praised the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja for the initiative, highlighting the importance of promoting education, skill acquisition, and gender empowerment. She acknowledged the program as an outcome of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, encouraging the Women Development Centre to elevate female entrepreneurs in the country through agricultural value chains.
Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, the Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, emphasized the program’s focus on exposing young women to the ways information and communication technology (ICT) can enhance agricultural practices. Agriculture employs over 75 percent of Nigeria’s workforce, and the demand for agricultural produce continues to increase with population growth.
Dr. Bashir underscored ICT as a driving force for development in all sectors, including agriculture, urging participants to leverage the knowledge gained to contribute to the country’s economic growth. The program aimed to create digital farmers in the North-West Zones of Nigeria, exposing participants to technological innovations in the agricultural sector. A beneficiary, Hajia Umma Aminu Waru, expressed gratitude for the training and pledged to make good use of the acquired skills.
