Association inaugurates agric project to empower women, youths

Dr Eyiwumi Olayinka, the President, University of Ibadan Women Society, on Sunday said the association had inaugurated agricultural project, Ag Impact, to create jobs for women and youths in the country.

Olayinka, who is also the wife of the Vice-Chancellor of the university, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

She said the project would help to eradicate poverty by empowering women and youths through sustainable agricultural projects.

We hope to explore value addition chain by keying into the best practices proven to have the capacity to eradicate crop glut in the production and processing of farm produce.

We hope to apply simple technologies that bring improvement in economic activities of women farmers,” she said.

Olayinka said proposals would be sent to national and international donors to source for fund to finance the project.

We wish to contribute in reducing the rate of unemployment, which rose to 9.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2015.

The initiative will focus on production and processing of cassava, maize, tomatoes, plantain and planting of economically viable trees to reduce effect of climate change.

We will work with individuals and organizations with relevant skills, knowledge and network to achieve our objectives,” she said.