The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusivity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector as it continues the review of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan (2025–2030).
Speaking at the North-East Zonal Consultative Forum held in Gombe on Monday, the Director of Special Duties at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Kachalla Damaturu, said the ongoing review aims to enhance women’s participation in agriculture and remove long-standing barriers to land ownership, access to finance, and training.
Damaturu noted that the Gombe forum builds on the progress of the maiden review session held in Abuja on January 24, 2025, marking another key step in institutionalizing gender inclusivity within the agricultural value chain.
She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing women’s empowerment, recalling his remarks during a Ministry of Women Affairs programme in October 2024, where he emphasized that gender equality must remain central to Nigeria’s development agenda.
“The President has consistently shown strong commitment to ensuring that women farmers and persons with special needs are not left behind in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda,” she said.
Damaturu explained that the consultative forum offers an inclusive platform for stakeholders, including civil society groups, women farmers, youth organisations, and development partners, to engage in dialogue and share recommendations that will shape the next phase of the gender policy framework (2026–2030).
“Our collective goal is to design a practical roadmap that will guide interventions for the years ahead,” she added.
She further appreciated the support of the National Gender Steering Committee, state officials, and development partners such as ActionAid Nigeria, AGRA, GIZ, and Care International, for their contributions to the ongoing review process.
