The Akwa Ibom Bureau of Cooperatives and Rural Development hosted its first-ever Women in Agribusiness Forum, bringing together over 500 women cooperative members, local farmers, agro-processors, and rural entrepreneurs from across the 31 LGAs of the state. Held at the Ikot Ekpene Rural Development Hub, the event aimed to spotlight women’s contributions to food security, cooperative leadership, and grassroots economic growth—while addressing the barriers they face in accessing finance, land, and training.
Themed “Her Farm, Her Future,” the one-day event featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, cooperative exhibitions, and grant opportunity sessions.
This initiative is part of the Bureau’s broader e-governance push, which includes the digitization of training materials, resource portals, and community support applications.
“Women make up over 60% of the agricultural workforce in Akwa Ibom, yet their access to credit and cooperative resources remains limited. This forum is a bold step toward correcting that imbalance,”
Key Sessions Included:
- “Beyond the Farm: Branding and Packaging for Female-led Cooperatives”
- “Access to Land and Credit: Legal Pathways for Women in Agriculture”
- “The Rural Woman as a Cooperative Leader”
Over 100 attendees registered for cooperative startup training, while 50 existing cooperatives applied for new funding and certification. The Bureau also launched a Women’s Agribusiness Toolkit—a printed and digital resource guide with modules on leadership, cooperative law, and business planning.
Voices from the Forum:
“For the first time, I feel seen. This forum gave me tools and the confidence to lead my local fish farming group as a formal cooperative,” — Grace Udoh, Oron LGA.
👏 Outcomes & Next Steps
9 female-led cooperatives shortlisted for technical grants
Ongoing mentorship scheme launched for young rural women
Training follow-ups scheduled for June and July 2025
This forum reflects the Bureau’s ongoing commitment to gender equity in cooperative development and the transformation of agriculture into a women-powered enterprise sector.
