Abuja, Nigeria4 March 2025UNESCO REF Media Centre — Exclusive ReportBy The Lichfield Partners & Associates

On 4 March 2025, the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in Abuja became the epicentre of a historic convergence of global leadership, national resolve, and grassroots mobilisation. The occasion was the National Flag-Off of the UNESCO REF 12 Million Mobilisation Campaign, commemorating the United Nations International Women's Day 2025.

This campaign, formally recognised as a National Empowerment Programme, is not merely a project. It is a movement of people, policy, and purpose — designed to mobilise and equip 12 million Nigerian women and youth with advanced skills in Hydroponics and Agro-Kenaf Enterprise Development under the UNESCO REF Strategic Intervention Programme – Alpha (SIP-Alpha). The day was charged with symbolism: the global observance of International Women's Day, the national urgency of food security, and the collective determination of leaders, institutions, and citizens to rewrite Nigeria's agricultural and empowerment story.

“Every woman empowered is a community strengthened, every girl educated is a nation advanced. Nigeria’s 12 Million Mobilisation Campaign is not just a national initiative; it is a global contribution to the 2030 Agenda.”
— UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed • IWD 2025, Abuja

Global Leadership: Amina J. Mohammed's Call to Action

Amina J. Mohammed
Amina J. MohammedUN Deputy Secretary-General
“Every woman empowered is a community strengthened, every girl educated is a nation advanced. Nigeria’s 12 Million Mobilisation Campaign is not just a national initiative; it is a global contribution to the 2030 Agenda.”
The UN Deputy Secretary-General framed the campaign as a national covenant between Nigeria and its citizens, a continental model for Africa's Agenda 2063, and a global beacon for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. She reminded the world that women's empowerment is not charity, but strategy — the most effective pathway to peace, prosperity, and planetary survival.

National Voices and Commitments

HI
Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-IbrahimHonourable Minister of Women Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria
“When women are empowered, families are stronger, communities are safer, and nations are more prosperous. This campaign is a practical demonstration of our government’s resolve to ensure that women are not left behind but are leading the charge in building a secure and prosperous Nigeria.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to mainstreaming women's empowerment into every layer of national policy. She emphasised that the Young Women in Agriculture initiative is not an isolated project but a pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She pledged the Ministry's continued support in policy alignment, advocacy, and resource mobilisation, describing the mobilisation of 12 million women as a lasting legacy for Nigeria and a model for Africa.
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Dr. Kayode Adeolu EgbetokunInspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force
“Food security is national security. When our women and youth are empowered to produce food, to create wealth, and to sustain their families, we are not only reducing hunger but also reducing crime, insecurity, and instability. A well-fed nation is a safer nation.”
The IGP described the mobilisation of 12 million women as a non-kinetic approach to national security — one that addresses the root causes of unrest by creating opportunities, reducing poverty, and restoring dignity to households. He assured that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to provide institutional support, advocacy, and protection for women and youth engaged in the programme, affirming that security and development are inseparable twins.
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Barr. Yejide OgundipeSenior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security (SSAP-FS)
“Through my office, the Presidency will broker the financial support required to ensure that millions of Nigerians benefit from this National Empowerment Programme. This is not just an agricultural intervention; it is a national security and empowerment strategy. Food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely policy — it is a covenant with the Nigerian people.”
Delivering the Presidency's message, Barr. Ogundipe reaffirmed the Federal Government's direct and strategic role, emphasising that the Presidency's involvement guarantees financial sustainability, policy alignment, and national reach ensuring all six geopolitical zones benefit equally. She concluded: “This programme is a promise kept. It is the Renewed Hope Agenda in action — practical, inclusive, and life-changing.”
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Hon. Dr. Vilita AsabeDirector-General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development
“This is a performance mandate, not a ceremonial assignment. The Centre will ensure that every action taken under this programme translates into measurable impact for women, families, and communities across Nigeria.”
Dr. Asabe positioned the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development as the National Secretariat of the Young Women in Agriculture programme, pledging it will serve as the hub for coordination and oversight, and affirming that the Centre will remain a custodian of integrity and delivery.
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Prof. Veronica ObatoluExecutive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T) — OAU
“This initiative bridges research and practice. Every YWA Champion will be equipped not just to farm, but to lead in a modern agricultural economy.”
The IAR&T assured stakeholders of the institute's technical backbone role, highlighting: developing a practical training curriculum tailored to modern agriculture, upholding agronomic standards with a focus on sustainability and climate-smart practices, and embedding research-driven innovation to keep beneficiaries globally competitive.
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Dr. Lateef OlagujuSecretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO
“Today, Nigeria is not only responding to a national emergency on food security, it is also contributing to a global movement for sustainable development. The Young Women in Agriculture initiative is a model of how UNESCO's values — education, empowerment, and equity — can be translated into practical programmes that change lives. Together, we can ensure that the empowerment of 12 million Nigerian women becomes a beacon for Africa and the world.”
Dr. Olaguju affirmed that the Commission will serve as a custodian of accountability and international alignment, ensuring that Nigeria's mobilisation campaign is recognised not only as a national milestone but also as a UNESCO-endorsed global contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. He called on donor agencies, development partners, and the private sector to join hands in scaling the vision.
Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun
Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth EgbetokunNational President of POWA & National Advocate for UNESCO REF YWA
“This flag-off represents more than a formal start — it symbolises the strength, resilience, and determination of our women. It is a commitment to build a sustainable and inclusive agricultural sector.”
Her address wove history with vision. As leader of Nigeria's first and largest armed forces wives' organisation (established 1964), she positioned POWA as a grassroots engine of mobilisation. She traced the YWA programme back to its June 2023 launch, noted its contribution to the 2023 Presidential declaration of a state of emergency on food security, and outlined the scale: 12 million women mobilised (2 million per geopolitical zone) over 2024–2027, extendable to 2030 — with pioneer beneficiaries beginning training on 10 March 2025 with a U.S. partner institution. She cited direct contributions to SDGs 1, 2, 3, and 8.
Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan
Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-OranmiyanPresident, UNESCO REF & National Coordinator, Young Women in Agriculture
“This flag-off represents more than a formal start — it symbolises the strength, resilience, and determination of our women. It is a commitment to build a sustainable and inclusive agricultural sector that nourishes families, uplifts communities, and forges human connections.”
His speech was a strategic manifesto for Nigeria's agricultural future. He traced Nigeria's over-dependence on oil, the 2016 recession, and the urgent need for diversification. Nearly 40% of Nigerians are food insecure (NBS, 2022) and with Nigeria projected to be the third largest country in the world by 2050, food security is a national security imperative. The programme aims to break the cycle of poverty by guaranteeing ₦300,000–₦400,000 every 12 weeks through value-chain agribusiness. Participants include POWA members, NYSC members, civil servants, journalists, female armed forces, students, and non-HEI demographics across all six geopolitical zones.
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Prof. Hafsat GandujeWife to the Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje
“The mobilisation of 12 million young women into agriculture is not just about food production — it is about dignity, opportunity, and security for families across Nigeria. When women are empowered with knowledge and resources, entire communities rise out of poverty. This campaign is a clarion call for every state, every local government, and every household to support women as the backbone of our nation's food system.”

Beneficiaries' Testimonies

Dr. Engr. Egan Okon-Effiong — Beneficiary Testimony
“As a PhD holder, my life’s work has been dedicated to research and knowledge creation. But through the Young Women in Agriculture programme, I discovered that knowledge must also feed people. By learning hydroponics and kenaf enterprise, I am now able to translate theory into practice, providing both livelihood and nourishment to my community. This initiative has given me the tools to impact not just classrooms and journals, but households and futures — ensuring that women like me can stand tall as scholars, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders.”
Hon. Dr. Adedoyin E. Eshanomi — Beneficiary Testimony
“Farming has always been my passion, but for many years it was a struggle to survive on what I produced. The Young Women in Agriculture initiative gave me access to modern methods and a guaranteed market, transforming my passion into a sustainable livelihood. Today, I have joined this programme so that I can build the capacity of other women in my community — sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, and proving that when women in agriculture rise, entire communities rise with them.”
Mrs. Chidi Nzota — Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology
“Before joining the Young Women in Agriculture programme, I struggled to find a clear path for myself. Through the training and mentorship I received, I gained practical skills in hydroponics and agribusiness that have opened new doors. This programme has shown me that with the right support, young women can be drivers of growth and innovation in Nigeria.”
National Empowerment Outcomes — By 2030
12M
Nigerians trained and certified by 2030
774
LGAs covered through SSC Cells — no community left behind
₦400K
Guaranteed income every 12 weeks through value-chain agribusiness
6
Geopolitical zones — 2 million women per zone, 2024–2027

Conclusion — A Covenant with the Future

The flag-off of the UNESCO REF 12 Million Mobilisation Campaign on International Women's Day 2025 was more than a ceremony. It was a national covenant and a global contribution — a solemn pledge that Nigeria will not only confront its food security challenges but also lead the world in demonstrating how women's empowerment can transform nations.

With the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed's global charge, the Federal Government's facilitation through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, and the partnership of Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, Dr. Lateef Olaguju, Hon. Dr. Vilita Asabe, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, and Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun — this initiative has been anchored in both policy and people, vision and action, global frameworks and grassroots realities.

It is a covenant that binds together government, international institutions, academia, civil society, security agencies, traditional leadership, and ordinary citizens in one shared mission: to empower women, secure food systems, and build a Nigeria that is resilient, prosperous, and inclusive. This is not just about agriculture. It is about empowerment, dignity, and resilience. It is about planting seeds today that will nourish a nation, uplift a continent, and inspire the world.

Know More About YWAJoin the Campaign
For media inquiries, please contact: UNESCO REF Media Centre — [email protected]  •  +234 807 527 3789  •  Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Report prepared by: The Lichfield Partners & Associates — [email protected]