By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:
The Bauchi State Government has applauded the efforts made by UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, towards ensuring that women at the grassroots level become fully economically independent in the state.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, made the commendation during this year’s International Rural Women’s Day celebration, organized by UN Women in collaboration with the Bauchi State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria. The event was held in Badel community, Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. Simon Madugu Yalang, appealed to the benefiting communities to judiciously use the items donated from UN Women to enhance food security in the state.
Earlier in her presentation, the Country Representative of UN Women, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, said the day is set aside by the United Nations to highlight the contributions of rural women towards ensuring food security around the world.
Mrs. Eyong also expressed concerns about how women are often marginalized, affecting their ability to participate in farming activities globally.
The Country Representative added that women are becoming more vulnerable to poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in many developing countries and called for concerted efforts to mitigate their suffering.
She also commended the Bauchi State Government for the support and cooperation extended towards empowering women to become self-reliant.
Mrs. Eyong highlighted that the introduction of climate-smart practices, such as biogas as a cooking fuel alternative in Bauchi, will empower rural women, reduce deforestation, labor, and health risks, and generate income for women.
Also speaking, the Programme Associate of UN Women, Mrs. Temitope Wealth Ekanem, said the motive behind conducting the event in the local community was to amplify the voices of women and emphasize the importance of supporting women in their roles in the agricultural sector in the state.
According to her, women make a significant share among smallholder farmers and play a pivotal role in food security globally, hence the need for stakeholders to develop a blueprint to support them in this direction.
The Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Biliyaminu Othman, also commended UN Women for supporting rural women in the state and called on them to maintain the effort.
The traditional ruler appealed to the beneficiaries to use the items donated for the betterment of their respective communities.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their happiness and thanked UN Women for the support, assuring that they would put what they learned into practice and teach others for the benefit of their communities.
Dignitaries at the event included commissioners from the Ministries of Land and Survey, Rural Development, and Budget and Economic Planning, among others.
Highlights of the occasion included the inauguration of rice processing machines donated by UN Women and the showcasing of agricultural products produced by the participants, among others.
