Abuja, Nigeria — 8–9 October 2025. The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), in partnership with UN Women, convened a two-day National Stakeholder Debriefing & Consultation Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of a joint IOFS–UN Women initiative on “Women’s Empowerment through Climate-Resilient Agriculture Value Chains”, to validate survey findings and co-design actionable solutions for women’s leadership. The next consultation workshop will be conducted in Sierra Leone.
The workshop brought together women producers and processors alongside government, research, finance, and development partners for data-driven dialogue, panel discussions. IOFS statement: “These consultations turn evidence into action. With UN Women and national partners, IOFS is investing in skills, technology, finance, and market access so women can move from subsistence to enterprise.”
IOFS and UN Women presented highlights from a Rapid Response Appraisal (RRA) across Abia, Oyo, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), engaging 207 respondents—approximately 76% women—to assess constraints, opportunities, and capacity needs along the cassava value chain.
Findings underscored women’s central role in production and processing, yet persistent barriers to land, finance, and modern technologies; the study also mapped market opportunities and policy levers to strengthen inclusion and competitiveness.
Nigeria remains the world’s leading cassava producer within a continent that accounts for nearly two-thirds of global output—spotlighting the strategic potential of inclusive value-chain upgrading for livelihoods, food security, and trade.
The consultation concluded with a session to validate survey findings and co-agree on next steps, including practical, gender-responsive solutions aligned with national priorities.
