NIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 NiWARD NIGERIAN WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Professor (Mrs.) Stella Williams and Dr. (Mrs. Mojisola) Edema Pioneer partners Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Federal Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture (FDF) African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), Nairobi Kenya, Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria

2 1. What is NiWARD? Nigerian Women in Agricultural Research for Development (NiWARD) was created to give Nigerian AWARD Fellows who are scientists and agricultural researchers the opportunity to impact rural women farmers using their professional skills and tools gained from the training and leadership that AWARD had equipped them with to help fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in their communities towards food security assurance in Nigeria. The outreaches to the rural farming communities will accelerate agricultural gains that will transform agricultural development and accelerate the National Agricultural Transformation Agenda, in line with the Government s policy to grow this sector. NiWARD is an extension of AWARD s program (African Women in Research and Devlopment), but at a National level. It is serving as a tool to fast-track the empowerment of rural women farmers resulting in national economic growth and improved livelihoods of rural farming communities. AWARD is a career-development program that equips top women agricultural scientists across sub-saharan Africa to accelerate agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills, through tailored fellowships. AWARD is a catalyst for innovations with high potential to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of African smallholder farmers, most of whom are women. The current Honourable Federal Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina spoke of NiWARD thus: The success of AWARD ıs when countrıes take ıt up and maınstream ın theır polıcıes. Countrıes must own AWARD. The approach of NıWARD should be replıcated across Afrıca. That ıs what I call real success! Bolanle and AWARD officials in France NiWARD delegates meet with the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and officials from the Universityof Nigeria, Nsukka at the teaching and research farm. Some of Our Goals Include: Dr. Happiness Oselebe and Prof. Kehinde Taiwo at AWARD IFS Training AWARD Fellows, Mentors and Mentees at NiWARD s Inaugural Meeting at the Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST) Promoting engagement among AWARD Fellows in Nigeria and the Regional community for promoting sustainable agricultural development; Promoting capacity building through training in scientific research and outreach with rural communities nationally to enhance agricultural productivity, livelihoods and farm incomes as well as competitiveness along the commodity value chains; Promoting gender equality in science and technology for agricultural empowerment and innovation for women and youths nationally; Contributing to rural development, poverty reduction, food security and sustainable use of agricultural resources in Nigeria; Partnering with the Federal and the State governments to help local women at the grass root level grow their farming businesses, by facilitating access to technological and financial support systems; Engage with our leaders at the local level (Obas, Chiefs, Community leaders and Decision makers); train them on genderrelated issues in order to gain their support for gender and youth development that will result in national economic growth and wealth creation.

3 Why Partner With Us? 2. Government NiWARD has keyed into the Government s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and we will help our farmers (through provision of scientific knowledge and financial instruments) to be more productive thereby increase their yield and the commensurate prosperity to the Nation; Our programs are not just aimed at poverty reduction, but we focus on making every participant successful holistically i.e. moving our farmers and scientists into new classes of income, to help build economically stable and well-rounded families. We try not to duplicate whatever Government is already doing but instead fill in the gaps in areas the Government did not reach e.g. Create and manage women-farmers networks, foster peer to peer knowledge transfer, implementing laser-targeted empowerment policies within communities etc. Mrs. Stella Williams and NiWARD delegation meeting with Prof. Mrs. Esther Aderibigbe,Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Ekiti State University Management. Private Sector Private sector participants who work with our fellows can help develop and grow new locally created agricultural techniques that are hyper-relevant to our environment. The 1st training workshop on Tropical Plant Biotechnology, held at the Biotech R & D Centre, Ebonyi State University (EBSU). Most companies have a Corporate Social Responsibility program and partnering with NiWARD can help you fulfill that as you contribute directly to scientific research and agricultural development. Every penny (kobo) spent today investing in the NiWARD participants has the potential of building loyal customers of your product(s) in the future as you help financially to empower them now while building brand affinity with them and their social network in the near future. NGOs and Faith-based groups Prof. Mrs. Stella Williams with the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Prof. Salako, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Prof. Lateef Sanni (AWARD Mentor) Partnering with NiWARD can help any NGO or Faith-based group have a direct, multiplier effect on people s lives, as our activities revolves around and affects a multitude of people (from agric. scientists, to farmers and the general populace We are willing to engage in Joint Projects with any group and each can bring their expertise to bear on the task at hand We have years of experience working within the Agricultural sector in Nigeria and we have built formidable relationships with different stakeholders in the sector so we can be counted on to deliver NiWARD delegation at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

4 3. Academic Connections We are liaising with several academic institutions across Nigeria to bring them into the partnership and communities where AWARD Fellows are impacting the economic growth of the populace. Federal University of Technology, Akure University of Nigeria, Nsukka Obafemi Awolowo University BOWEN University, Iwo Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta University of Ibadan Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki LAUTECH, Ogbomosho Federal University of Ado-Ekiti Federal University of Oye, Ekiti NiWARD Officials at CEGIST NiWARD delegation at the Centre for Gender Issues in Science and technology (CEGIST), FUTA Our Progress So Far NiWARD has 68 Fellows from 1,700 applicants for AWARD Fellowships from 2008 to date. AWARD Fellows represent the following disciplines: Agricultural economics, Agricultural engineering, Agronomy, Animal and livestock sciences, Aquatic resources and fisheries, Biodiversity conservation, Crop sciences, Ecology, Entomology, Extension education, Molecular biology (plant /animal breeding), Natural resource management, Plant/Animal virology, Soil sciences, Veterinary sciences and Water irrigation management. NiWARD works with AWARD Fellows, Mentors and Mentees from Nigerian Universities, Agricultural Research Institutes and Agricultural NGOs and Private Sectors. We also have some volunteers working with us facilitating workshops An inaugural meeting of all AWARD Fellows, Mentors and Mentees was held on 4th May 2013 at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). The meeting was both critical and significant for discussing how the goals of the fellows to transform rural agriculture in a meaningful way. In comparison to other Fellows in other African countries, the Fellows in Nigeria were unable to achieve their personal goals simply because they were unable to raise the funds needed to carry out various Projects to achieve their dreams and visions. There was a proposal to strategize the way forward with the support of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwande Adesina who fully understands and is in full agreement that these Fellows if given the appropriate support can achieve their dreams, vision and partnership with their Mentors and Mentees could be outlined practically. NiWARD delegation visiting officials at the University of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) 2009 AWARD Fellow Aishatu Bashir Ardo was featured in a recent publication. She is described as a pioneering leader. She was one of first women in northern Nigeria to be trained in artificial insemination of cattle. NiWARD Participants with PROFESSOR ADEBIYI G. DARAMOLA at the Inaugural meeting of NiWARD

5 4. Dr. Adesina who has carried out a similar action in Malawi and won the YARA Award for his achievement is convinced that the AWARD Fellows can partner with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in empowering the Rural Female Farmers in Nigeria. Some of our Fellow s Projects S/N Rural work/research Processing and preservation of indigenous vegetables Farming and information on food and nutrition and entrepreneurship development Preservation of some crops (e.g. onions) using different roofing styles Nutrition education for rural women Enlightening women in agriculture around mine sites on the risks of heavy metal contamination Sensitizing small business holders and students at tertiary, secondary and NYSC levels to opportunities abounding in agro-business Value chain analysis of cashew farmers Identification and promotion of under-utilized traditional vegetables that contribute to nutritional well-being and income generation for rural farming families Training and empowering women in promoting the use of grain Amaranth to produce indigenous food products that are of health and economic wealth Value-added processing of lesser-known indigenous crops especially fruits and vegetables Introducing mycorhiza (agricultural yield improver) to the rural/peasant farmers Growing tree seedlings (multi-purpose sap) The nutritional and health status of children in rural communities Laboratory research and sharing of the results with rural faring women through agricultural extension process Location Southwestern Nigeria National data Northern and central geo-political zones Nationally Itagunmodi, Atakunmosa area, West Osun State North central and South west Nigeria Some villages around ile-ife Remo North LGA Ebonyi State South west Nigeria

6 5. Mr Eze Peter Udu, Farm Officer is posing in the plantain plantation AGRA_EBSU rice lines on display during the launching of 2010 Farming season at Ishielu Local Government headquarters, Ezillo, Ebonyi State

7 Some of our Fellow s Projects Continued 6. S/N Rural work/research Research work on food security especially in the area of women and youth in agriculture Improving indigenous technology of local staples and legumes and food safety practices of rural processors Survival and early growth of selected tree species on oil polluted soil Fish production and processing Indigenous poultry (chickens) characterization and improvement Assessment of pest incidence on farmers fields; evaluation of farmers adoption of CRIN technologies Location South west Nigeria South west Nigeria Ondo State, Riverine area Ondo State Oyo, Kogi and Anambra, Osun States

8 7. Dr. Stella Williams, Former Member of Steering Committee (SC) 2008/2012 and Former Chair of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) representing West Africa, 2009/2011. Stella Williams is a retired Professor of Agricultural Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU, formerly, University of Ife), Ile-Ife, Osun State, 1983/2008)z. She serves as Vice Chair, Board of Trustees of the Center for International Potato (CIP), CGIAR, Lima, Peru. She is Vice President, Mundus maris asbl (Art, Science and Sustainability of the Sea), Brussels, Belgium. Served for the last three decades on several International, Regional and National Boards as well as on various Expert Groups. Fellow of Fisheries Society of Nigeria and African Association of Agricultural Economics. She is a Fulbright Fellow, 2003/2004 and Stella Williams holds a PhD in Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA. Dr. Mojisola Olayinka Edema, Acting Director, Centre for Gender Issues and in Science and Technology (CEGIST), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State. Mojisola Olayinka Edema (MOE) is the Ag. Director, Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST) of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). She holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her main fields of research are food biotechnology and food safety and she has exceptional skills in fermentations for food product development and renewable resource management for feed and fuel generation. She is a Fellow of the prestigious African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) CGIAR Gender and Diversity programme, an opportunity she is still using to achieve her professional philosophy of Food/feed processing for safety and wealth creation. She is a member of several professional bodies including the Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM), United Kingdom, Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Trieste, Italy and the American Society for Microbiology, Washington.