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UNESCO REF YWA National Advocate Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun, POWA President, and Delegation Pay Working Visit to Osun State Governor H.E. Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke on Young Women in Agriculture

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Introduction

In furtherance of the national rollout of the Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) flagship program, Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun, UNESCO REF YWA National Advocate and President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), led a distinguished UNESCO REF delegation on a working visit to the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke. The visit underscored the program’s strategic role in empowering women and youth, strengthening food security, and advancing sustainable development across Nigeria.

Purpose of the Visit

The delegation’s engagement with the Governor was designed to:

  • Present the objectives and transformative scope of the YWA initiative.
  • Explore Osun State’s active participation and leadership in program implementation.
  • Strengthen institutional partnerships for grassroots delivery.
  • Highlight alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Key Highlights

  • Governor’s Commitment: H.E. Senator Adeleke reaffirmed Osun State’s readiness to collaborate with UNESCO REF and POWA in advancing agricultural empowerment for women and youth.
  • Program Benefits: The delegation emphasized structured income opportunities, job creation, and international certification for participants.
  • Strategic Alignment: Discussions highlighted how the initiative directly addresses poverty reduction, gender equality, and food security challenges in Osun State.
  • Collaborative Pathways: Both parties agreed to establish a joint working framework to ensure effective rollout of the program in the state.

Diplomatic Significance

The presence of Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun as UNESCO REF YWA National Advocate and POWA President reinforced the program’s gender‑inclusive vision and symbolized the collective resolve of women leaders to champion agricultural transformation. The visit demonstrated UNESCO REF’s commitment to engaging state leadership at the highest level, ensuring that the initiative is both nationally owned and globally aligned.

Conclusion

The working visit to Osun State marks a significant milestone in the nationwide rollout of the Young Women in Agriculture initiative. By securing the support of Governor Adeleke and his administration, UNESCO REF and POWA strengthen their resolve to empower women and youth, enhance food security, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio‑economic development. Read Full Exclusive Story on Media Centre

 

 

The Royal Seal: Where Ancestral Wisdom Meets National Ambition. HIM Ooni Ojaja II Accepts Nomination as Royal Father for UNESCO REF YWA Champions

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A Covenant of Heritage and Progress

The UNESCO‑REF proudly announces that His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, has formally accepted the nomination to serve as Royal Father of the UNESCO‑REF Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) Champions. The YWA Champions are the beneficiaries of the Young Women in Agriculture programme – young women across Nigeria being empowered to lead in food production, innovation, and community resilience. His Imperial Majesty’s acceptance is therefore not only symbolic but paternal, a cultural covenant of guidance, protection, and inspiration for the women themselves.

Royal Seal Meets National Agenda

By lending his royal seal to the Champions, the Ooni of Ife aligns ancestral authority with the Federal Government’s food security agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Agriculture, identified as a cornerstone of national resilience, now carries the weight of royal endorsement. His role as Royal Father also resonates with the First Lady’s Food Bank Initiative, which combats hunger and supports vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts form a powerful architecture of food security, with young women positioned at its heart.

Institutional Voices of Commitment

Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu‑Oramiyan, President of UNESCO REF, emphasized: “The Ooni’s acceptance as Royal Father of the Champions is a cultural and institutional platform of immense power. It provides the beneficiaries with a sense of belonging, dignity, and protection, while mobilizing communities and accelerating progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

He noted that the YWA Champions initiative is not only about agricultural empowerment but also about creating a model of multi‑stakeholder collaboration – integrating traditional leadership, civil society, and government priorities into one unified framework for sustainable development.

Champions of the Future

The YWA Champions themselves represent the future: young women equipped with training, mentorship, and modern technologies; positioned as leaders in agricultural innovation; and contributing directly to poverty reduction, food security, and inclusive economic growth. With His Imperial Majesty as their Royal Father, the Champions gain not only institutional support but cultural legitimacy, embedding their empowerment within the heritage of the nation and Africa at large.

Royal Words of Paternal Commitment

His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Ojaja II, expressed his paternal commitment in elevated terms:
“As Royal Father to the Champions, I embrace these daughters of our land with pride and responsibility. Their hands will till the soil, their vision will feed the nation, and their courage will shape the future. In them, I see the strength of Nigeria and the promise of Africa.”

Symbolism and Strategy for Global Impact

The acceptance by His Imperial Majesty is both symbolic and strategic. It demonstrates visionary leadership, aligning traditional authority with the President’s food security agenda, the First Lady’s humanitarian vision, and UNESCO REF’s institutional mandate. With this royal seal, the YWA Champions are poised to achieve greater impact, ensuring that young women across Nigeria and Africa drive agricultural transformation, reduce poverty, combat hunger, and contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.