Emem Omokaro, the Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), recently highlighted the federal government’s commitment to enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of elderly women in agriculture. This announcement came during the launch of a two-day capacity-building workshop organized by NSCC in collaboration with SMEDAN, NHIA, and NIMC, focusing on managing the Ushafa Grandmothers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Model in Bwari Area Council, FCT.
The initiative aims to bolster small-scale businesses for women farmers, starting with the Ushafa community. Omokaro emphasized that the training would fortify the institutional and individual capacities of the aged women, enabling the cooperative to function effectively.
She outlined the comprehensive approach of the initiative, which includes strengthening value chains for various commodities, starting from cultivation to processing and onward distribution. The program integrates healthcare services and national identity issuance, offering primary access to health services and ensuring identity documentation for the beneficiaries.
SMEDAN’s acting director, Prof. Yinka Fisher, stressed that the event aimed to advance knowledge in the SMEs sub-sector, focusing on employment generation and food security within the Ushafa community.
Laraba Bawa, a beneficiary, expressed gratitude for the government’s attention to the elderly women of the Ushafa community and pledged to utilize the opportunity to enhance their agricultural business and create jobs for younger generations. She appreciated the genuine care extended by the NSCC and promised to make the endeavor a success.
The workshop symbolizes a broader commitment to supporting elderly women in agribusiness, empowering them to contribute actively to their community’s economic development.
