Nigeria is on the verge of a historic milestone with the validation of its revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture, scheduled for October 20, 2025, in Abuja, reports ITREALMS.
The policy, according to ITREALMS findings, is designed to create a more inclusive and equitable food system that not only serves the nation but also strengthens agricultural development across Africa and the wider world.
At the North-East Zonal Consultative Forum in Gombe State, the National Consultant on the Revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture, Nkiruka Okonkwo, explained that the updated framework ensures no group is excluded from contributing to or benefiting from agricultural transformation.
She noted that equitable representation for men, women, young people, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) has been carefully built into the revised policy.
“The revised policy empowers farmers and local communities by introducing an institutional framework that establishes Gender Steering Committees at different levels to guarantee inclusivity and accountability,” Okonkwo said.
“The revised policy empowers farmers and local communities by introducing an institutional framework that establishes Gender Steering Committees at different levels to guarantee inclusivity and accountability,” Okonkwo said.
She stressed that this new approach moves beyond token representation, positioning all stakeholders as active contributors in decision-making and implementation.
The revised policy also introduces a 2025–2030 Strategic Action Plan, which requires states to establish a dedicated gender budget line in agriculture and encourages stronger public-private partnerships.
The revised policy also introduces a 2025–2030 Strategic Action Plan, which requires states to establish a dedicated gender budget line in agriculture and encourages stronger public-private partnerships.
For the first time, farmers, cooperatives, civil society organizations, and Persons With Disabilities are actively shaping the content and priorities of a national agricultural policy.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Barnabas Malle, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agricultural development, describing the sector as a key driver of employment and inclusive growth.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Barnabas Malle, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agricultural development, describing the sector as a key driver of employment and inclusive growth.
He emphasized the state government’s readiness to implement the gender policy, highlighting targeted support for men, women, students, and persons with disabilities in agricultural training and capacity-building initiatives.
The national validation in Abuja on October 20 will be followed by the policy’s formal submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
The national validation in Abuja on October 20 will be followed by the policy’s formal submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
Once adopted, it is expected to set a new benchmark for mainstreaming gender inclusiveness into agriculture, paving the way for a stronger, fairer, and more productive food system.
ITREALMS gathered that the consultative forum was jointly organized by ActionAid Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), with technical and financial support from AGRA, GIZ, and CARE International.
The validation of this revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture is widely seen as a bold step towards dismantling barriers, amplifying voices that have long been sidelined, and ensuring that Nigeria’s agricultural future is not only sustainable but inclusive.
ITREALMS gathered that the consultative forum was jointly organized by ActionAid Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), with technical and financial support from AGRA, GIZ, and CARE International.
The validation of this revised National Gender Policy in Agriculture is widely seen as a bold step towards dismantling barriers, amplifying voices that have long been sidelined, and ensuring that Nigeria’s agricultural future is not only sustainable but inclusive.
Gbemi Omotoso/Editor
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