Salamatu Chiroma at her POS business centre attending to a customer
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Available records indicates that Bauchi State has the lowest youths literacy rate in Nigeria which is at 48.9%, it also has the second-highest unemployment rate which stands at 37% nationally and the 4th highest poverty rate in Nigeria with over 3 million people living on less than $1 a day out of a total population of about 7 million.
It is this statistics that prompted agencies like Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) to come to Bauchi State in order to give support to Women and Youths Entrepreneurs through the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in the Nigeria WAY Project.
The WAY project supported small scale businesses and entrepreneurs by strengthening the capacity of small-scale businesses and other value chain actors so they can engage with other entrepreneurs through networking forums and stakeholder meetings, created linkages among value-chain actors in Forging market linkages and provided access to green technologies, and green finance facilitating community and family dialogue on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and sharing how empowered women strengthen their family units supporting women as they strengthened their business capacities and increased their income by supporting the development of life skill programmes for young girls to teach life skills, business development services, financial literacy and youth savings.
The project which was expected to benefit a total of 41,000 people which included 16,000 small scale businesses, particularly those run by women and youths, aimed at improving their business capacity and business environments; and 25,000 families and community members that were to become better educated on the consequences surrounding early and forced child marriage.
The Nigeria WAY project improved the business capacity and environment for entrepreneurs and small-scale businesses in the rice, groundnut and soybean value chains processing in seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State from 2017 – 2022 later extended by 2 years to March 2024.
Binta Zubairu at her POS business centre
The seven-year project used a market based approach to increase access to markets, financial and business development services, information and labor-saving technology, incorporated environmentally sustainable practices and increased profitability for clients, contributing to a vibrant agro-processing sector.
The project also facilitated the manufacturing and installation of institutional efficient cook-stoves for rice processers in the state.
The market systems approach used involved private sector-led initiatives which reduced barriers and constraints faced by economically active poor women and youths in accessing markets.
The project began by selecting value chains (VCs) with growth potential and opportunities for women and youths-led Small Scale Businesses (SSB’s) and Small Entrepreneurs (ENs). The project components included access to green technologies, and green finance among others.
The Project Impact Stories from WAY was the Youth Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment in Northern Nigeria (Nigeria WAY which Goal aimed to increase the contributions by entrepreneurs (ENs) and small-scale businesses (SSBs), particularly those run by women and youth, to support Nigeria’s economic growth.
The Context was Nigeria’s Bauchi state located in the North Eastern region of the country. Drier than the southern states, Bauchi is vulnerable to climate change and desertification. Although Nigeria is considered one of the wealthiest African nations, wealth is not evenly distributed, and the northern regions have higher unemployment and greater economic and gender inequality.
Salamatu shares her experience with other women
While the Federal Government of Nigeria is investing in agricultural development across its country, women producers in Bauchi state are particularly disadvantaged as gender and social norms limit their abilities to effect market linkages. This means they also lack credible market information and rely on social networks to learn about the marketplace. Women farmers experience other challenges such as time constraints due to family responsibilities, lower literacy levels, smaller business networks, and limited mobility. Women and girls also face the customs of early and forced child marriage due to poverty and the prevailing social norms of conservative society.
The Project Strategies was improving business performance of women and youth businesses in rice, soy and groundnut value chains. As well as improving business environment to foster the growth of women and youth in the target value chains and nhancing provision of community and family support to address issues of early marriage by promoting socio-economic engagement.
In the 7 years of the implementation of the Project, the achievements recorded included the setting up a network of over 509 Saving Groups (SLGs) across 443 communities of the Seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) who have so far mobilized up to N1 billion in revenue just as it successfully identified and engaged with more than 18,000 small entrepreneurs, with a significant 94% of them being women.
A total of 294 SMEs were identified and trained in various technical and business development interventions and wthin a span of 3 years, local rural women engaging in agribusiness have generated over N1 billion. The project has led to the creation of over 11,000 sustainable and decent jobs.
In August 2020, the Women in Business Forum (WiBFo) was established as a dedicated business alliance and networking platform for female entrepreneurs in Bauchi State. Through a sequence of targeted Technical Assistance interventions, WiBFo received guidance in the process of institutionalization and formalization of their organization. As a result of these efforts, the Women in Business Forum has achieved the following significant milestones:
Successfully reaching a membership count of 5,000 women across 8 LGAs in Bauchi State.Registered as a State Apex body with the Department of Cooperatives, establishing their official recognition.
Completing the registration process of their Microfinance company with the Corporate Affairs Commission.Demonstrating strong member support by raising CAD 26,380.63 (NGN15,000,000) through the sale of shares.Facilitating loans totaling CAD 14,069.67 (NGN 8,000,000) to member groups who met the share and loan prerequisites.Establishing a valuable connection with the Bank of Agriculture, securing a Nano loan of CAD 15828.38 (NGN9,000,000) for onward lending to their members.
A total of seven Empowerment Learning Centers (ELCs) has been set up across the seven-project implementation Local Government Areas (LGAs). These centers who are champions I various project intervention area, provide support to various groups, including Small Entrepreneurs (ENs), Enterprising Entrepreneurs (EENs), GALS Champions, Women Sales Agents (WoSAs), Village Agents (VAs), and LGA focal persons.
The project trained 18,307 clients in Business Development, which involves learning strategies and skills to help businesses grow and succeed. Provided technical assistance to over 16,000 clients, offering expert guidance and support to help them improve their skills in environmentally sustainable practices for women and youth-owned businesses.
Distributed smart incentives to over 9,000 project clients, granting them access to environmentally sustainable productive equipment. The total value of these incentives is estimated to be about CAD 350,000 (NGN 198,237,968).Offered more than 30 matching grants to support Small Scale Businesses in upgrading their technology and enhancing their market presence. The total value of these grants amounted to CAD 492,035.12 (NGN 278,685,836.15)
Disbursed over 30 Performance-Based Grants to market actors within the rice, groundnut, and soy value chains. These grants were awarded to enhance their market positioning and specialization. The total value of these grants amounted to CAD 109,456.33 (61,995,430.02).Organized 103 networking forums and stakeholder meetings, creating platforms for individuals and groups to connect, share ideas, collaborate, and discuss important matters.
Provided support to 50 local partners to actively advocate for the rights and well-being of women and girls. Delivered financial literacy training to 17,277 project clients, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage their finances.
The project Identified and trained over 150 village agents linked to savings and loan groups. These agents assist and help spread the idea of saving groups within and outside communities. Delivered training to more than 2,000 clients on digital financial services and linked them with financial institutions to support them through the recent government cashless policy crunch.
Provided training to 1,727 clients on the utilization of soy to enhance their nutritional diets. This training focused on incorporating soy into meals to improve the overall quality and health benefits of their diets.Organized and conducted soy utilization training sessions for clients in partnership with office of the first Lady
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, the project Trained 18 health workers on the diverse use of soybeans to combat malnutritionDeveloped and shared 1,355 counseling cards with Nutritional focal persons and health educators in the local government areas of Bauchi. Trained about 30 women in agriculture extension workers on Gender action learning system, soy utilization training, and rice parboiling techniques.
In partnership with the Agency for Sustainable Microfinance (MIFIN) the project supported clients with farm input loans during the start of the rainy season. The project facilitated the establishment of Agro-mini parks within 4 communities in 3 LGAs (Dass, Warji & Ganjuwa). These cooperative groups were provided with a matching grant for a rice parboiling unit.Over 500 women and youth received seed innovation grants to incubate their agro-technology and gender-responsive innovations.
Pioneered the first Bauchi State Environmental Stakeholders Forum, which had been pivotal in addressing environmental issues in the state. The forum recently trained more than 150 youths and community heads from areas identified to be vulnerable to the adverse effects of flooding in 2023.
2,500 Small entrepreneurs have been linked to formal and informal alliances. Three value-chain-specific alliances were established across the seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) of MEDA’s work. These alliances were seamlessly integrated with the Department of Cooperatives for formalization, supported by the creation of bylaws and the facilitation of elections. These alliances were as well linked to 8 market associations in Bauchi State for membership participation.
Seven market associations, namely RIFAN, NECAS (NorthEast Commodity Association), Soya Bean Marketers, Gnut Marketers, ASSAPIN, Muda Lawan Traders and Artisans Association, and Millers Association of Nigeria, underwent training on gender-sensitive leadership approaches. Subsequently, these associations were connected to MEDA clients through a strategic business roundtable and convergence meeting, facilitating collaborative opportunities and knowledge sharing.
Another area of impact of the Nigeria WAY project was on environmental Sustainability in Bauchi State which had an overview of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment in Northern Nigeria (WAY) project supporting women and youths agro-processors in three value chains in Bauchi State: rice, soybeans, and groundnuts. The project focuses mainly on women and youth-led businesses, with activities to improve productivity, adopt environmentally sustainable business practices, and increase access to markets, financial services, market information, business networks, and partnerships.
Nigeria WAY collaborated with partner organizations operating in Bauchi State to mobilize clients into the activities supported by the project. The project operates in seven Local Government Areas (LGAs), specifically selected because of their importance to Bauchi’s economy, feeding two key markets in Bauchi State – Bauchi and Azare – which bring together buyers, sellers, and processors for soybeans, groundnuts, and rice, among other crops. However, businesses in Bauchi are primarily small and informal, and the market remains nascent, with the government – not the private sector – as a primary driver of the local market economy.
In this socially conservative state, women and young people face many obstacles in achieving business success. Mobility and access to finance are limited for many women, and gender norms restrict the roles available to them. However, endemic poverty and family needs increase the requirement for their economic participation. With increased access to productive technologies and business services, greater financial inclusion, and inclusive community dialogues, Nigeria WAY supports women and youth-led businesses to transform their contribution to their households and communities and, ultimately, the Nigerian economy.
On the Bauchi Environment Context, Nigeria is characterized by three distinct climate zones, a tropical monsoon climate in the south, a tropical savannah climate for most of the central regions, and a Sahelian hot and semi-arid climate in the north of the country. This leads to a gradient of declining precipitation amounts from south to north.
The WAY project which was implemented in 7 LGAs of Bauchi State is located in Northern Nigeria where the impact of deforestation and strain on the natural environment caused by a growing population are being felt. While rainfall averages have decreased only slightly over the past thirty years, temperatures have gradually risen by nearly one degree Celsius. This threatens the potential for some staple crops to thrive in the state, and the persistent concern of desertification is increased by erratic weather patterns, particularly encroachment of the Sahara onto savannahs of Northern Nigeria.
There was environmental Sustainability Achievements by MEDA as it partnered with local clean technology firm: Roshan Renewables to incentivize and promote the uptake of clean cook stoves which is 60% fuel efficient. This has greatly reduced the consumption of firewood among women who are adopting the technology. Currently, more than 20,000 women have been supported to adopt clean cookstoves in Bauchi State.
MEDA created the first Bauchi State Environmental Stakeholders Forum which brings like minded stakeholders in the state to collectively identify environmental challenges and jointly proffer solutions to them. Currently, Dr. Ibrahim Kabir, the executive director of BASEPA is heading the committee. (An attestation to MEDAs activities from him will be a good affirmation sir)
MEDA Nigeria WAY project has partnered with National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and have trained and equipped more than 100 youth in seedling production. These youth groups have so far raised more than 30,000 seedlings in 3 years. These seedlings have been distributed freely to partners, women entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the state.
The WAY project pioneered the Bauchi State Agro-Input Association with representative from each LGAs. This groups have so far improved access to farm inputs, support in the regulations of farm inputs as well as curtailed the menace of indiscriminate use of farm chemicals in the state.
The MEDA WAY project have so far partnered Development Exchange Centre; A micro finance institution to support the acquisition of clean technology by women and youths in the state.
The MEDA WAY project has also partnered with the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists including staff and students from Mass Communication Department from learning institutions in the state to conduct trainings on environment and climate change and improve climate change reporting in the state.
Bauchi state government described efforts made by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates MEDA in the state as a remedy for eradicating poverty among women and youths in the society.
The Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs in the state Mrs Lydia John Shehu stated this during the MEDA’s closeout activities ceremony across seven local government areas of the state, held at Multipurpose Indoor sports Hall, Bauchi, insisting that the Canadian organisation is the best development partner that impacted immensely to the socioeconomic development in the life of people of the state.
The state SDGs Director General also appealed to the benefited families to sustained the gestures for overall development of the state.
Earlier in her welcomed address, the Country Project Manager of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates MEDA Mrs Grace Fosen commended the Bauchi state government for the accord given to them and appealed to the government functionaries to support the MEDA’s activities for the development of people of the state.
Grace Fosen also said that the cardinal objectives of MEDA is to improved the business capacity, creating enabling environment for entrepreneurs and enhancing small scale businesses in the production and processing of farm produced such as rice, groundnut and soya beans.
The Country Project Manager also applauded the people of Bauchi state for the hospitality accord to them during the period of implementation of MEDA’s programmes in the state.
While shedding more light on the achievement recorded by the organisation in the state, the MEDA and community liaison officer Malam Iliya Shu’aibu said that since
its inception in 2017, MEDA has reached out it activities in seven local government areas of the state to include Bauchi, Toro, Warji, Ganjuwa, Jama’are, Dass and Katagum.
According to Malam Iliya under a year review, MEDA has registered two hundreds and ninety four small scale businesses, addition of establishment of five hundred and nine saving Groups across four hundred and forty three communities in seven local government areas of the state.
He said on its to ensured sustainability on it activities across seven local government areas of the state, MEDA has established Empowerment Learning Centres in seven local government areas in addition to Gender Action Learning System aimed at resolving issues bordering families in the society.
Some of the beneficiaries interviewed expressed their gratitude to the MEDA for empowering them and assured their readiness towards eradication of poverty in their respective communities.
BINTA ZUBAIRU participated in the Digital Finance Inclusion in her location in Warji LGA as Partnered by Rahama. Binta Zubairu got inspired by Agent banking training also known as digital finance training and became Point of Sales (POS) Agent in her community.
Binta Zubairu is a WAY project client who deals in Rice, Groundnut, and Soybeans in Warji, Warji LGA of Bauchi State. She started her entrepreneurial journey in groundnut processing with her mother about almost 15 years ago. She processed between 15-25 mudus every week before she got to know of the WAY project. This was a part time business for her, she is only active during festive periods or occasions.
She joined WAY project as an Entrepreneur (EN) and later became a Women Sales Agent (WOSA) due to her entrepreneurial skills. She was trained on business development and financial literacy where she learnt skills that improved her business.
“I attended the training in Warji here and made up my mind to add other business to what I was doing. I switch to marketing and now doing buying and reselling grains, Rice, beans, soybeans, groundnut, and oils”.
She also attended a training course on digital finance training (Agent Banking) where she learned about POS business.
“Digital finance training (Agent Banking) was another turning point for me, though I am used to the POS machine because I do operate it for somebody sometimes but I didn’t know secret about its economic benefits, I thought it was something that need big money and traveling to Bauchi to source for cash, it was during the training all the secret was revealed to us and I picked interest in the business”
As an entrepreneur she trades in the project value chains in cash most times, she deposits the cash to her account through the POS agents around and gets charged for such transactions. The digital finance training inspired her to go into the business and have her own POS terminal. She now owns a registered business named “BZ Processing Ventures”.
“Since I have my own POS terminal, I become an agent that provides financial services in my community, I no longer take cash to the other POS agent to deposit for me, rather I use the cash to pay those that come to make withdrawals from me and the money I transfer from their cards goes direct to my account and I equally charge them for the services I rendered”
She has an advantage over other POS agents in the community because other agents have to source for cash outside of Warji but she always has cash with her and she makes transactions of over 2 million naira a month, especially during payment of salaries for civil servants.
“I do more transactions when civil servants receive their salaries and market days, I do receive N200,000 to N500,000 cash during market days”
The digital finance training was helpful to her during the cash scarcity due to the cashless policy of the federal government. She did not face the challenges other competitors faced; she had an alternative mode of transaction when others relied on only cash. “I made more profit during cash crunch because the price of those that pay electronically was different from those that pay in cash, and the normal charges for those that came for withdrawal were tripled during that time”
Her monthly profit from the POS business ranges between N70,000 to N80,000. The proceeds from her business are being used to support household expenses and other personal finances. She now serves as a source of motivation for other project clients who received digital finance training to invest in POS agent business. “I have eight children, some are in tertiary institutions, some are in secondary and primary school, I contribute almost 50% of my family needs, I have a mother and sibling whom I assist when the need arises, my husband has been helpful and supportive in my business seeing how I contribute to family need”
Her next plan is to open another outlet in a nearby village that does not have even a single terminal, this will reduce their expenses to travel to a nearby town where there is a POS terminal for deposits and withdrawals, especially on market days.
Agent Baking training was a Game-Changer in Salamatu Chiroma’s Family and entire community.
Salamatu is an Agric entrepreneur who is into farming and processing in Durr village of Dass LGA. As a rural dweller, she had no opportunity to have had former education but that did not impede her from engaging in legitimate business. She is into farming rice, soybeans, groundnut and maize. She is also a processor and marketer of stated grains. This entrepreneurship engagement qualified her to be selected as WoSA among MEDA clients.
Life before the MEDA project was a little above primitive where she carried out businesses without knowledge of how business should be run. Sometimes her business stopped because of how she manages her fund.
“Life before the MEDA project was life without exposure to the basic principles of business, we had no idea of how to account for our business, we sold and spent our money when the need arose, no savings just spending both the capital and profit until when I joined VSLA group created by MEDA where I started receiving pieces of training on business management and development”
Talking about financial inclusion, she stated that she has no access to formal financial services because there is no bank in her entire LGA let alone her village. People in her village have to travel long to Bauchi city if they have anything to do with a bank like account opening and other things, or they travel to Dass, the LG headquarters, to meet POS agents if they need little cash. Her business was moving normally when she was interviewed about her business and later mobilised for Agent Banking training.
“Being a member of SLG and one of the WoSAs in the LGA, my business was moving and growing steadily until I received a visitor asking some questions on my business and other things relating to agent banking, after some days I was invited to attend a two-day training on agent baking”
She was one of the participants in Agent Banking training conducted by Emeraid to prepare WoSAs with skills to become banking agents providing financial services in their various communities. The training was mind-boggling to her as she saw an opportunity in the business to empower her family and provide financial services in her community.
“The story of the trainer on how he started the business and how the business transformed his life recounted his achievements inspired me to pay attention during the training session. After I came back from the training, I related the story to my sons and made up my mind to have one in my shop which my son manages. I acquired one to give it a trial, it was like a play when we saw a man going to Dass to withdraw money, my son intercepted him and brought out the POS terminal, we initiated the transaction of N30,000 and were successful. That is how the business started, everyone in the village and nearby villages comes to us for transactions. I am the only one in the village with a POS terminal providing financial services in the village.”
She is a shop owner in the village selling grains and provisions managed by her older son, now she assigned the POS business to her younger son to manage. The manager stated that it is a lucrative business that many people may not realize, the number of customers increases day by day, especially during salary and market days. When they started, they used to do transactions between the range of N80,000 to N100,000 a day, but now they can exhaust N300,000-N400,000 a day and the charges on each N10,000 is N200, meaning they realize a profit of between N6000 to N8000 per day. He added that cash is not their problem because people bring cash for deposits and they also use cash from sales in the shop to pay those who need cash from their POS terminal, and those who don’t have cash can transfer to their Moniepoint account to get items they want from their shop.
The woman made good use of the training received to improve her business and empower her son. The woman, in her statement, mentioned how she has been thinking of business for her younger son “My wish has been to get my younger son a separate business to keep him engaged, now thank God the wish has been fulfilled”
The only challenge in the business is a large number of customers during salary time and market days in which one terminal seems not to be enough. She has been trying to add one but has not been able to do so since but hoping to add one or more soon.
Though MEDA has closed out its project implementation in Bauchi state, the positive impact of achievements will remain memorable as many of the beneficiaries have different success stories to tell. The warning however is that, they should be careful not to fall into the hands of fraudsters using the name of MEDA to deceive them. For now, MEDA has closed out activities in Bauchi State.
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