… promises to train, empower over 500 female rural farmers
Wife of Edo State Governor Mrs. Betsy Obaseki has expressed her readiness to partner, train and provide soft loans to over five hundred members of a Non- Governmental Organisation, Women in the New Nigeria, on their Farmer’s Mart initiative towards ensuring that their farm produce meet the quality for export.
Mrs. Obaseki also tasked the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to ensure they facilitate the export of farm produce once the WINN Farmer’s Mart products are ready for export.
She gave the assurance at Spirit and Life Bible Church, Ekenwhuan Road Benin City, Edo State, during the inauguration ceremony of Farmer’s Mart Edo State.
The Edo First Lady commended the facilitator of the program, Mrs. Deb’rah Eunice Osagiede for the initiative, as according to her, it would go a long way in empowering women and youths in the state that are into agriculture.
Mrs Obaseki intimated them of her Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise project which seeks to empower women all over Edo State through agriculture and small scale businesses while promising that she would ensure that the members of Women in the New Nigeria benefit from loan facilities given by the Bank Of Industry to help small scale businesses.
“On my own part, I cannot wait to confirm that you are fully organised in cooperatives, you are producing well, and we will support you in the bank of industry with soft loans”
“I find a lot of value in this initiative. Value first and foremost to us as women, value second to the state and government, as you all know that a major focus of the government currently is on agriculture.”
“I want Edo women to key into the government’s agenda to grow the Agric sector in our state
“I want the women in Edo State to be active in everything that is happening in government.
Mrs. Obaseli told representatives of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) who were present at the event:
“SMEDAN and NEPC, from today you are partners of this initiative, and everything you promised here, you must fulfill.
“When our women begin to produce for exports, you must facilitate it and make sure we export goods out of Edo State, abroad so that our women can earn dollars.”
On her part the facilitator of the Farmer’s Mart, Mrs. Deb’rah Osagiede, stated that the Women In the New Nigeria is a Non- Governmental Organisation that has spread across the world to correct the ills in the society and train women and youths in over twenty-five skills in order to ensure self-reliance.
She stated that the Farmer’s Mart would showcase products that were personally and naturally cultivated by the women in the rural areas unlike products cultivated by farmers who used chemicals in enhancing the quality and looks of their products.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the commissioning of the Farmer’s Mart by Mrs. Obaseki.
