By Eunice Nnachi
Rural women in Sheda and surrounding communities have received a major boost with the launch of a new Agro-Processing Centre aimed at improving cassava processing, increasing productivity, and enhancing economic opportunities for women.
The facility, established through a partnership between UN Women and the TY Danjuma Foundation, is expected to reduce the burden of manual cassava processing while creating opportunities for increased income and sustainable livelihoods for women processors in the area.
Speaking during the launch, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, emphasized the significance of investing in rural women’s economic empowerment.
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According to her, the initiative goes beyond providing equipment, as it is designed to unlock the economic potential of women and strengthen their contribution to community development.
“Today, we are investing not only in a machine; we are investing in the time, productivity, and economic potential of rural women. By reducing the burden of manual cassava processing, this Agro-Processing Centre will enable women to increase their earnings, pursue other productive opportunities, and strengthen their contribution to the economic development of their families and communities,” she said.
The Chair of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Hannatu Gentles, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting underserved communities through investments in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
She described women as the backbone of rural economies and expressed confidence that members of the Akpu Women Association would maximize the opportunities provided by the facility.
“We believe in putting economic power directly into the hands of women, the true backbone of our rural economy. The TY Danjuma Foundation is deeply committed to supporting communities that need it most, and we are confident in the capacity of the women of the Akpu Women Association to use this facility to grow their businesses and build better futures for their families,” she stated.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Mariam Babangida Centre, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, noted that empowering women with modern processing tools would have far-reaching benefits for food security and economic growth.
She said women who had spent decades processing cassava manually would now be better positioned to strengthen community resilience and contribute more effectively to local development.
Community members welcomed the intervention, describing it as a transformative investment that would improve productivity, increase household incomes, and accelerate socio-economic development in the area.
The Agro-Processing Centre is expected to serve hundreds of women processors across Sheda and neighbouring communities, promoting improved food processing practices and stimulating local economic growth.
The initiative underscores the commitment of UN Women and the TY Danjuma Foundation to advancing women’s economic empowerment through strategic partnerships and targeted investments aimed at enhancing food security, building resilient communities, and fostering inclusive development.
