MoU Signed to Enhance Women's Access to Agric Finance

On Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, led by Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) in Abuja. This partnership aims to improve women's access to agricultural financing and enhance their participation in the agricultural value chain, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s focus on strengthening agriculture and ensuring food security.

Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that many women remain smallholder farmers due to limited financial support. The MoU aims to bridge this gap, enabling women to transition from subsistence farming to large-scale agribusiness.

The initiative will be implemented through the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) programme, which allows beneficiaries to choose opportunities that suit their interests, including acquiring farmland and adopting modern farming technologies. Approximately 33,000 women have expressed interest in the WAVE programme, which was launched by President Tinubu last year.

Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of BOA, reiterated the bank’s commitment to empowering women in agriculture through affordable financing and improved farming inputs.