The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs have agreed to develop a financing framework aimed at improving women’s access to credit and productive resources across Nigeria.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the participation of women in agriculture and enhance their contributions to food security and national economic development.
Speaking on the collaboration, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, noted that women constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, accounting for nearly half of participants in the rice value chain.
According to him, women also represent up to 80 per cent of rural farmers, highlighting their indispensable role in agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
Sotinrin emphasized that despite their enormous contributions to the sector, many women farmers continue to face challenges in accessing finance, modern inputs and other productive assets needed to expand their operations.
He stated that the proposed financing framework would help bridge these gaps by providing women farmers with improved access to credit facilities and other forms of support capable of boosting productivity and increasing incomes.
The collaboration between the Bank of Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is expected to promote financial inclusion, empower women entrepreneurs and encourage greater participation of women across agricultural value chains.
Stakeholders have consistently advocated targeted interventions for women farmers, noting that enhancing their access to resources is essential to achieving sustainable food security and inclusive economic growth.
The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to promote gender inclusion, strengthen rural development and unlock the full potential of women in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
