Nigeria: Nigeria: Bringing Songhai Home to Empower Rural Women

She was one of the resource persons in a recent workshop on women and youths as catalyst in agribusiness. But after her tour of the Songhai project in Port Novo, Republic of Benin, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke believes that replicating such venture back home could be a veritable tool to further empower rural women. Jude Okwe writes

"You are not farmers; you are agricpreneurs." Those were words from Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of the Cross River National Governor. It's really interesting the way new words come out of different people and in different locations. In this case it was amount the way in Port Novo, Republic of Benin.

Mrs Imoke was invited to co-chair a three day workshop, titled: The Women and Youth as Catalyst in Agribusiness, perhaps a first of its kind. So, accompanied by her Project Directors, Commissioner for Women Affairs and some other senior officials, amount roads led to the Republic of Benin. The journey was via the ever bustling commercial city of Lagos, through Badagry known for its infamous slave route.

The Seme Border, which is the boundary between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin is not far off. It's a tiny border but things happen there, trade in different commodities being the majority prominent of them amount, and that then marked the cross over into Benin Republic.

In this country, the roads look the same and so do the people. And then you wonder why there are two different countries and not one - until you speak and get blank stares in exchange. Indeed in this near but faraway land, you get to realise that it is not business as usual. "Good morning," somewhat finds its way to the back burner and is restored with "Bonjour," and "Que-est que ce" immediately replaces" "What is this?" It goes on and on...

Fortunately at this landmark event interpreters were on hand for the linguistically challenged. That meeting could be best described as a melting pot of countries. Thirteen African countries were represented some of them being: Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, and The Gambia. They were there to address a very critical problem - Women and Youth unemployment.

"This is a critical problem" said UNIDO's Regional Director, Patrick Kormowa "If not addressed there will be largest problems in Africa."

The UN systems offices came up with the idea of stakeholders to organise this forum, the project combines research on successful agribusiness enterprises such as the Songhai model with stakeholder consultations - ultimately aimed at developing policy guidelines for formulating agribusiness programmes inclunding national policies that are focused on improving employment opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector.

Venue for this event was the 6,000 hectare corporate quarters of the Songhai farms, reminiscent of the ancient Songhai Empire which back in the day, extended to some parts of present day Republic of Benin and Nigeria. The Songhai Empire is a medieval civilisation thought to have started in the 9th century as a small principality in West Africa, located on both banks of the Niger River. In the 16th century, it became the largest pre- colonial empire ever to be created in West Africa.

"The solution to unemployment is agriculture," said Fr Godfrey Nzamujo, Director of the Songhai Centre in his welcome remarks. The organisers of the event note that a vibrant rural sector generates local request for locally produced products and services. Recognising smallholder farms as agribusinesses, irrespective of their size or scale, is an significant first step in making the sub region's rural sector a viable choice for young people. The challenge is to create a vibrant rural economy by making agriculture extra productive, efficient, remunerative and competitive with the view to creating employment for young people.

"This is a fantastic workshop," said Mrs. Imoke during her presentation on the first day. "I have an NGO and our first focus is on agriculture. Of the national's 3.2 million people, about 75 % are subsistent farmers living in rural communities.

Nevertheless, the national like the rest of Nigeria and other countries in the world is facing the problem of rural urban migration and an aging farmer people. "It is accordingly imperative that women who are acknowledged as the mainstay of a lot of families, and young people who are the ideal catalyst for significant change should be encouraged to adopt farming as a profession."

Nevertheless there are challenges she noted, some of which are: poor transportation and power infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas, inadequate access to market and linkages; unfavourable price fixing by middlemen, perceived stigma attached to young farmers and their desire for white collar employment as opposed to agricultural entrepreneurship, low levels of financial literacy, competence, self esteem and negotiation skills, lack of education, particularly of the girl child, the challenge of collateral provision; gender gaps in land and other property ownership, thus limiting ability to fasten borrowing, uncoordinated and/or ineffective Government support efforts; poor coordination between public sector, private sector and donor agencies.

Participants were then taken on a tour of the Songhai Centre amongst them was Cynthia Umoru, CEO of Farmshoppe as well known as the "pretty farmer." According to her, the world people is expected to grow from the current 6.5billion to 8 billion in 2050. "How do we feed the world then? Young people are migrating from Africa to greener pastures but Africa holds the potential to become the food belt of the world.

"Where there is a will there is a way," Mrs. Imoke emphasised. "Agribusiness holds the key to increased food security and great wealth creation. With passion and commitment on the among of amount stakeholders, the challenges involved in attracting and engaging women and young people in agribusiness can be overcome."