In its drive to empower rural women, UN Women has empowered over 200 rural women farmers in Ebonyi State through the distribution of fertilizers, improved rice seedlings, and the launch of a Low-cost Biogas Production Project.
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These initiatives support food security, boost productivity, and improve household incomes, aligning with Nigeria’s economic goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13).

UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, highlighted the importance of these initiatives during her address. “UN Women is excited to continue to support women in the rice value chain as part of a larger programme on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA),” she said.

“This programme directly supports Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present government, aimed at restoring growth, investing in the nation’s people, and building a globally competitive economy through investments in the agricultural sector.”

“Since many years ago, we have been farming from hand to mouth, but today our farming is in business”, one of the women farmers said. Another beneficiary added that “… this support will improve the lives of women and girls.”

In addition to supporting agricultural growth, UN Women is also launching a Low-cost Biogas Household Production Project in Ebonyi State. This innovative project aims to empower rural women by providing a sustainable and clean energy source, reducing reliance on fuelwood and its associated health risks.

The event held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, was also an opportunity to strengthen advocacy and awareness around the biogas technology. In August 2024, 250 beneficiaries were already trained on its use and maintenance. Training for local artisans and agricultural extension workers will continue to ensure the sustainability of the project.
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