IWD: Women traders tasked to unite to influence government policies

Women in Trade, Agriculture and other spheres of business endeavors have been tasked to unite and form a synergy so as to influence government policies positively to change narrative for women traders and farmers.

This was a call made by the National President of the Association of women in Trade & Agriculture (AWITA), Dr. Mrs Ruth Agbo Abraham, at the occasion of the 2022 International Women’s Day event organised by the group in Abuja.

To change the narrative, Dr Agbo says AWITA is speaking to the process of providing an enabling environment for women in Nigerian society to be part of the decision making process.

Dr. Agbo Abraham called for more commitment from the federal government on issues affecting women precisely creating full sense of belonging for the feminine gender, to add value to governance.

“We are still struggling to have a voice in issues concerning women and we are excluded from political processes, when women are the majority of the electorate and yet few of the elected and appointed leaders, this has negative effects on the future generations ongoing imbalances in equal opportunities which can affect the prospects and economic development in the longer term” Dr. Agbo said.

She persuaded the present and incoming political leaders to create enabling environment for economic development.

“We need synergy and collaborations to train our members through mentoring, hand holding and upscaling for national, regional and global competitivenes, especially towards the African Continental Free Trade”.

Speaking on the need to build women’s capacity in farming, Dr Agbo identified engagement of women and thorough training at the micro level ranging from planting, harvesting, processing, storage and preservation to marketing, as a major tool in ensuring food security in Nigeria.

“We therefore need equipment and tools (new technology) for our trades and farms, women traders and farmers need good road networks essentially we want the government to develop rail transport, water ways from rural to urban areas”

The women group further tasked the federal government to engage with key stakeholders in the resolution of the security challenges facing the country

Country Representative of Action Aid in Nigeria and Governance Team Leader, Ene Obi, who is also a Lead Speaker at the event said identification of women groups is ongoing across Nigeria.

She stressed the need to adequately mobilise Nigerian women towards a formidable women movement and to capture “power” for women in future elections, to the advantage of women’s courses.

Another Speaker at the event, Mrs Abiola noted that trade, Agriculture and better economy can lift Nigerian women.

According to her, only Nigerian women can bring to reality the desire of food security, she added that Nigerian women have a long way to go in breaking bias.

“We need to have a government that is responsive to the plights of women”.

Mrs Amah Yemi-Samuel, a member of AWITA for 2years said that her association with AWITA has broaden her mind on trade and has given her the capacity to go into international trade.

 AWITA National Youth Leader, Sarki Sylvia Yemi, urged the government to invets more in Agriculture while the country boosts it economy.

The event also featured panel sections on different issues facing women across societies.

The theme of the 2022 International Women’s Day as organised by AWITA is ‘Breaking the bias:  Achange of Narrative For Women Traders & Farmers.’