By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The wife of the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mrs. Christie Sam Ode is to launch a pet project aimed at increasing more women participation in agriculture to achieve food sufficiency and economic empowerment.
Mrs. Sam Ode disclosed this while speaking exclusively in an interview with Voice of Nigeria on activities marking this year’s International Women’s Day celebration in Makurdi, the State Capital.
Mrs. Sam Ode who acknowledge that women in rural areas were paying the highest price of climate change equally explained that the major priority action of the pet project would focus on increased food production to address food shortage in the state.
"I have registered my foundation which is something that I have started doing already. It is called Evergreen Women Farmers Foundation. I want we the women to go into farming.
"God has blessed our land in Benue State so much. Our land is fertile, so, I want us to really go into it. I have started doing it already and I'm telling the women in whatever little way they can, they should help themselves, encourage themselves''.
She assured that every necessary assistance would be given to the women including adequate farm inputs to boost productivity.
"Even if it requires renting a parcel of land, they should do so. And of course, we will be ready to give them fertilizers, seedlings and whatever incentives they need. The most important thing is that, we the women really have to go into farming, if not for economic reasons at least to feed our families".
Mrs. Sam Ode called for inclusion of more women into the scheme of affairs and to remove the gender gap so that women will not left far behind.
"When it's election day, it is the women that go out more to vote. And those women in position should assist their fellow ones and encourage them".
The Deputy Governor's wife who called for abolition of religious and cultural practices that relegate women to the background also urged implementation of gender friendly policies.
She urged government at all levels “to ensure the removal of all religious and cultural obstructions that limit activities of women in the society as well as enable rapid and unhindered
consideration of more women for employment and appointments into key positions in government".
It would be recalled that Benue State in North Central Nigeria is the only state in the country without the office of a First Lady, because the Governor is a Catholic Priest and is bound by an oath of celibacy to remain unmarried.
