Adamawa State Govt., NGO celebrate women’s resilience in agriculture

The First Lady of Adamawa, Mrs Lami Fintiri, gave the commendation on Saturday in Yola during the commemoration of the 2025 International Women’s Day.

The IWD theme was: “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”.

The event was organised by Nuru Nigeria in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and co-funded by the European Union.

Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Neido Kofulto, Fintiri noted the role women play in families, communities, and society.

She emphasised the transformative impact of women’s participation in agriculture, stating that their involvement has significantly contributed to the sector’s growth in Adamawa state.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to lead, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.

Fintiri also credited the governor’s policies for increasing women’s participation in governance.

“In Adamawa state, we have women in key leadership positions, including the Deputy Governor, the Chief Judge, Commissioners, and Vice Chairpersons across all 21 Local Government Areas,” she added.

The Managing Director of Nuru Nigeria, Mrs May Gaman, noted that the organisation has impacted over 32,000 beneficiaries through various agricultural and business enterprises.

“We have over 5,000 farmers under Nuru Nigeria’s portfolio, with 70 per cent of them being women. Other interventions have strengthened over 32,000 women and men, especially in post-conflict recovery areas,” she said.

Gaman added that Nuru Nigeria provides training, resources, and business development support to help women establish sustainable agricultural enterprises.

A representative of GIZ, Mrs Kate Opoh-Pina, said women’s challenges have evolved from mere advocacy to concrete policy actions at local, national, and international levels.

She praised the state government for adopting and implementing laws that protect women’s rights, including the Criminal Justice Act, the Child Rights Act, and the VAPP Law, among others.

Malam Sale Daksiri, District Head of Pela in Hong LGA, appreciated the government and NGOs for driving transformative change in women’s empowerment.

“This has created gender inclusivity, and women have become agents of change in their families, livelihoods, and communities,” he said.

 90 women and youths received cash gifts and start-up packs to support their agricultural ventures in their respective communities.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi