NIGERIA – The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation recently launched a transformative poultry farming initiative in Zamfara State, Nigeria, to empower 200 women.
This initiative, unveiled in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture, seeks to provide rural women with sustainable means to support themselves and contribute to local food security.
The launch ceremony in Gusau, attended by dignitaries including the First Lady of Zamfara State, Hurriya Dauda Lawal, and the State’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Ya’u Haruna Gamji, underscored the project’s commitment to community development.
Oludare Odusanya, the General Manager of the BATN Foundation, explained that the project aligns with the organisation’s mission of empowering local communities, particularly women, to foster resilient livelihoods.
Under the initiative, each of the 200 selected participants received 20 five-week-old broiler chicks, a bag of specially formulated poultry feed, and essential multivitamins to promote sustainable poultry farming.
The women, chosen from all 14 local government areas in Zamfara, will also undergo training aimed at equipping them with the knowledge to run successful poultry businesses.
The Foundation hopes that by focusing on entrepreneurial development, participants can contribute to regional food security and stimulate local economies.
The First Lady of Zamfara State, Hurriya Dauda Lawal, praised the project’s impact on women’s empowerment and highlighted the importance of strengthening rural communities through agriculture.
“The women of Zamfara are the heart of our communities, and empowering them means empowering the future of our state,” she said. “With this support, we are not just giving them birds and feed; we are giving them the tools to rebuild and strengthen their livelihoods.”
Commissioner Gamji echoed these sentiments, emphasising the program’s importance for the state’s agricultural development and economic resilience. He noted that empowering women through agriculture creates a positive ripple effect that can uplift entire communities.
The BATN Foundation’s efforts are part of a broader mission to empower smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has invested over 4 billion Naira (US$2.4 million) in agricultural programs, supporting over 1.3 million beneficiaries and aiming to double this impact over the next decade.
With a renewed focus on women and youth, BATN calls for collaborative partnerships to scale up agricultural interventions, recognising these groups as key players in achieving sustainable rural economic growth.
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