By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited (WIACFL) on Saturday marked its 16th anniversary in Lokoja, Kogi State, celebrating its success story in boosting agriculture across the state.
The President of the group, Dr. Esther Audu, made the disclosure during the anniversary ceremony, where she launched new programmes aimed at boosting women’s participation in agriculture and enhancing food security in the state.
Dr. Audu ,who announced the initiatives during the organization’s 16th anniversary celebration in Lokoja, noted that the programmes represent a major milestone in WIACFL’s absolute commitment to empowering women across the agricultural value chain.
She listed the programmes for launch to include;WIACFL10,000hectres of rice farm,10 integrated rice mills,community value chain, cooperative card agripreneurship, skills acquisition, agency banking, farmers’ health scheme, insurance scheme, pension scheme, and business micro-credit scheme.
Others are farmers’ housing estate, equipment hiring services, transportation services, infrastructure support, MSME products, marketplace development, digital world initiatives, welfare and empowerment as well as security packages.
Other programmes to the credit of the group,she added,are rice,soya beans,sweet potato and snail production.
Dr. Audu expressed gratitude to God for making the progress of the organization possible, describing the journey so far accomplished as one that “did not come on a platter of gold.”
She commended members of the group and stakeholders in the state’s agricultural sector for their resilience, dedication, and unwavering support, urging them to remain steadfast as the cooperative continues its march towards greater achievements.
She encouraged residents of the state to embrace cooperative development concept, stressing that it remains a dependable strategy for economic survival, especially in the prevailing national economic climate.
According to her, women interested in practical farming will find opportunities within WIACFL to participate in production, processing, packaging, and marketing of agricultural produce.
Dr.Audu disclosed that WIACFL would extend its programmes to Edo, Kwara and other states in 2026, as part of efforts to allow other Nigerians benefit from its impactful services.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abdullahi Uveida, lauded WIACFL for its impressive accomplishments over 16 years.
Uveida, who is the Group Managing Director of Sainif Integrated International Company, who expressed his commitment to cooperate with the group, directed all 28 companies under his conglomerate to affiliate with WIACFL to further strengthen women’s agricultural initiatives in the state.
He called on the state government and other key players in agriculture industry to support WIACFL to enable it achievements its set goals and objectives.
Also speaking, the President of the Kogi Cooperative Federation and the Onobobanyin in Lokoja, His Royal Highness Mohammed Otue, hailed Dr. Audu and her team for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the advancement of women in agriculture.
Our Correspondent reports that the event which featured agricultural products produced by women,was attended by key agricultural stakeholders, members of the Kogi Unity Movement (KUM), traditional rulers, widows,members of the cooperative and other members of the society in and outside Kogi State.
A major highlight of the event was the cutting of the anniversary cake marking WIACFL’s 16 years of impactful service to Kogi State and its residents.
