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By Oboh Linus, Lafia
The Ziva Community Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has trained women in agriculture and mining on climate-smart agriculture and mining practices in Nasarawa State to enhance their productivity and livelihoods.
Ms Patience Ogbode, Gender Inclusion Officer, Ziva Community Initiative, said at the training on Thursday in Lafia, that it was as borne out of the need to build the capacity of women in agriculture and mining on climate-smart livelihoods.
She said the training would bridge the gap created by energy deficit in Northern Nigeria.
Ogbode, also the Project Manager, Increasing Renewable Energy Investment for the Empowerment of Women Sustainable Agriculture and Lithium Mining in West Africa (IREEWAM, West Africa), noted that women were mostly affected by the impact of climate change.
The project manager said that empowering climate-smart livelihoods for women in agriculture and mining was part of the IREEWAM, West Africa project, supported by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy.
She emphasised the need to build the capacities of women on climate-smart ways to practice agriculture and mining.
This, she said would assisted them to get value for their work.
“This project was borne out of the need to empower women, and sustain their livelihoods, especially those who are in agriculture and lithium mining, because women are facing the reality climate change has brought about.
“Given these reasons, we are trying to empower them on climate-smart ways to practice agriculture and mining and advocate policy for women’s inclusivity.
“This can help them to explore renewable energy sources to do their work better,” she said.
She enjoined participants drawn from different groups and communities to learn and share knowledge gained to adapt to changing climate.
The participants were drawn from Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), Women in Mining, and Advocate for Women with Disabilities Initiative.
In her remarks, Mrs Lydia Kyari, Director, Agriculture Engineering Services, State Ministry of Agriculture, urged women in mining and agriculture to invest in renewable energy and embrace smart agricultural practices to increase productivity.
“Women in agriculture and mining will add more value, especially to their income and the economy of this country at large, if they embrace climate-smart agriculture and mining practices,” she said.
Prof. Shekwonyadu Iyakwari, Department of Geology, Federal University of Lafia, in his presentation on sustainable Agriculture Practices and eco-friendly Mining for Climate Change Mitigation, harped on responsible mining and agricultural practice.
“If women can start crop rotation, mix farming, bush fallow, reduce the use of inorganic fertilisers, planting trees to reduce deforestation, and dispose of mining waste responsibly, it will go a long way,” he said.
Also, Mrs Mayowa Edgar, Head, Infrastructure Finance and Public Private Partnership at the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), underscored leadership role and advocacy for women in agriculture and mining.
Edgar said women in agriculture and mining could influence local policies on farming and mining practices.
“They can raise awareness on climate challenges affecting their livelihoods. Leadership isn’t about position but it is about taking initiative to bring change in your community,” she said.
Some participants who spoke at the training, Mrs Caroline Abimiku, Assistant Coordinator, SWOFON, and Hajiya Halima Sabo, Assistant Coordinator, Women in Mining thanked the organiser for the training.
They promised to share the knowledge from the training with other members of their association.
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