… Empower women in rural communities

A non-governmental organisation, the Flight Lieutenant Ohai Prosper Idonije Foundation (FLPOIF), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday mobilised rural women in Ondo State to steer their families away from illicit farming of hard drugs.

The sensitisation programme, held in Eleyowo Community, focused on the role of women in influencing their husbands, brothers and sons to abandon illegal cultivation and embrace legitimate agricultural livelihoods provided through the NDLEA Alternative Development Programme.

The initiative targets communities where Indian hemp farming had previously taken root as an underground economic mainstay.

Speaking during the programme, the Head of the Alternative Development Unit, NDLEA Ondo State Command, Julius Oyebode, commended the community for its cooperation and commitment to the initiative.

“We are happy with the efforts of the community. Among the three communities involved in the programme, you are the best so far.

“You women are very important in the family. You can influence your husbands to stop what is wrong and embrace what is right. We know it is not easy to stop something that once brought money, but there will be light at the end of the tunnel.”

Oyebode explained that the visit by FLPOIF was aimed at encouraging women to support their families during the transition from illicit farming to legitimate agricultural activities.

The state coordinator of FLPOIF, Aizohi Gbadamosi, said the organisation decided to engage the women because of their strategic role in sustaining peace and lawful farming within their homes and communities.

According to her, the foundation came to encourage the women to support their husbands and sons during the planting season and resist the temptation of returning to illicit farming.

“We know this period is difficult because there is no harvest yet and many families are struggling financially after disengaging from illicit farming. That is why we are appealing to women not to pressure their husbands into returning to the Indian hemp business.

“To enjoy the benefits of licit farming, we must abide by the guidelines put in place by the NDLEA. This project is a pilot project in Nigeria; women of the community need to join hands with their husbands to ensure it succeeds,” she stated.

Gbadamosi assured the community that the foundation would continue to support them, noting that the project is the first of its kind in the country.

Also speaking, the Olu of Eleyowo, Oba Adesina Agunbiade, described the programme as impactful, saying it had restored peace to the community.

“The poultry programme they gave us is flourishing, and our pepper farms are growing well. I want the women to support their husbands on the farms,” the monarch said.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to include local farmers in future empowerment initiatives.

While sharing testimonies on how illicit farming negatively affected their families, one of the residents, Maria Samuel, said her family lived in constant fear and had nothing to fall back on while her husband was involved in illicit farming.

“Whenever buyers came, they sometimes carried our goods without paying. We were suffering despite the risks. My family and I were living in fear. My father almost came to remove me from my husband’s house because whenever we have information that NDLEA officers are around, we run away from our homes.

“But nowadays, since we have declined from planting, my home is peaceful. We realised that with the little we have, we are happier than the plenty without our rest of mind. With that, I will keep encouraging my husband to stop so we can live peacefully,” she said.

Another resident, Gladys Joseph, stated that “Since the NDLEA introduced this programme, we no longer run in fear.” “We appreciate the agency for the assistance they gave to us during this farming season,” she said.

Also speaking, Maryam Umaru expressed gratitude to the NDLEA and FLPOIF, noting that the initiative had brought peace and hope to the community.