…….. launched automated rice milling technology in 2 rural communities
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
As the World marks the 2024 International Rural Women’s Day (IRWD), UN Women Programme has commemorated the day in Bauchi State with a launching of a high quality Rice Milling Machines in two communities of Badel and Mbakwara in Dass LG of Bauchi State to further boost economic status of the rural women.
In a well attended ceremony heralding the launch of the rice milling machines held at Basel community of Dass LG on 15th October, 2924, Ms. Beatrice Eyong,UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said that the new technology rice milling initiative is aimed at increasing women’s economic empowerment through climate-smart agriculture, which is a step closer to economic empowerment for the rural women of these communities.
Eyong said that UN Women remains committed to promoting women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria as a whole and in Bauchi state and also expressed her hope that event will mark the beginning of discussion on the domestication of the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy in Bauchi state.
She disclosed that UN Women is collaborating with Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Bauchi chapter and the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) to provide the Automated Rice Milling Machines to the two rural communities, with a view to enhancing women’s economic empowerment through climate-smart agriculture.
Eyong said that this year’s theme of IRWD ,, “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All” underscore the objective of the International Day of Rural Women , which is to eradicate discrimination faced by women in rural areas, hence, creating awareness of the key issues of women and their rights, poverty, hunger, and malnutrition faced by women in rural areas.
“UN women is also supporting rural women in Bauchi through climate smart practices with the use of biogas as an alternative source of cooking fuel for rural women. This aims to reduce deforestation, time labour for women who have to walk distances to get firewood and generate income for women while simultaneously tackling health risks associated with firewood, deforestation, and climate change challenges”.
“I am confident that through the support of our implementing partners, the local government, and the Government of Bauchi state, challenges would be addressed, solutions proffered, and a sustainable pathway will be set for the empowerment of rural women in the state”, said the UN Women Country Representative.
She then commended Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and the women of the state who, according to her, have exemplified a deep commitment to growth and resilience in face of adverse economic challenges that face the rural women of the state.
“This is evident in the laudable production and processing of rice that Dass local government is well known for and the several support provided by His Excellency’s government to the people of the state”.
In his Royal message during the event, Emir of Dass , Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman expressed his gratitude to UN Women and their partners for the launching of the automated rice milling machines and choosing his domain to host the event.
The Royal Father assured that the investments will be jealously and closely monitored, to ensure that it is fully utilised for the intended purpose of rural women’s economic advancement in rice production and processing.
While unveiling the Rice Milling Machines that was installed by the UN Women Programme, the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed appreciated the initiative which he described as Humanitarian.
Represented by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Professor Simon Madugu Yalams, Governor Bala Mohammed said that the initiative is in line with his administration’s policy in economic empowerment of the people of the State. The Governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for development interventions that would enhance the lives of the people.
Earlier in a short remarks stating the purpose of the event, the Bauchi State UN Women Programme Assococite, Temitope Wealth-Elkanem said that the idea behind hosting the event in the rural community of Badel was to showcase the contributions of rural women in National economic development.
Wealth-Elkanem thanked the Emir of Dass, the LG Administration and people of Badel community for the warm reception that was accorded to the UN Women team and other high level invited guests.
There were goodwill messages from the seven Commissioners that attended the event and other heads of MDAs.