IWA moves to empower Igbo women, holds agro-export summit October 31 * Requests 1000 hectares of land from S'East govs

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IWA moves to empower Igbo women, holds agro-export summit October 31

* Requests 1000 hectares of land from S’East govs

By Steve Oko

Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, has taken a bold step to empower Igbo women as it holds a two-day agro – export summit from October 30 to 31 in Enugu.

The agro-export summit is to sensitise Igbo women on the export of farm produce, and to give them opportunity to become more innovative in their agribusiness.

This is as IWA has requested South East Governors to make available, 200 hectres of farm land in each state for the socio-cultural women group to use as farm clusters by women.

IWA said it intends to engage 50,000 women in commercial farming across South East, per annum, with a multiplier effect of generating additional 20, 000 new jobs per state every year.

Disclosing this in a press statement by its National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie; and the Director of Media and Publicity , Odoziaku Nonye Aduba; IWA said it was poised to take Igbo women out of poverty.

According to the statement, the summit scheduled for Universal Hotel, Independence Layout Enugu, will be chaired by former Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, while former Senate President Senator Adolphus Wabara; Deputy VIce Chancellor, Paul University Awka, Professor Stella Okunna, are among the expected special dignitaries at the event.

The summit, according to the statement, also expected to provide food security and boost agro businesses among women in the South East.

IWA which noted that African women are integral part of the agriculture sector, said time had come to empower Igbo women for self reliance and to depend less on their husbands.

The statement made available to Wawa News Global read:”The agro-summit will help to improve the livelihoods of women in agribusiness either through growing business revenue for women entrepreneurs, producers and job creation for women across the agriculture value chain”, the statement said.

“IWA yearns to obtain attention to support women in agribusiness, not only increasing the livelihoods of the vendors, workers and suppliers in a particular trade, but to support women in manufacturing, and exportation of farm produce that form modern practices, to create all-inclusive value chain.

“The summit is based on a challenge fund model, with a few reforms to address fundamental barriers that limit women’s access to finance; the production of suitable food crops to meet the needs and changing taste of the growing population as well as to increase the quality and efficiency of producing the major export crops as demanded by the world market.

“The business models will also facilitate women to take advantage of economic opportunities by upgrading their current roles or taking on new roles as well as generate innovations in practices and processes that will create a more inclusive value chain.”

Other dignitaries expected at the event include: Macpherson Aideloje Fred-Iloegben, (MGIT) Regional Coordinator Nigeria Export Promotion Council South East Region; Ag. Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike Umuahia, Dr Godwin Asumugha; Prof J Chidozie Chukwuokolo; and Ifeoma Uzo-Okpala, Executive Director, ED, Large Enterprise Bank of Industry.

According to the statement, highlights of the two -day summit include, workshop, training, exhibitions, round table discussion and other engaging activities.

It added that 50 delegates are expected from each of the five tates in the South East”.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.