OSOGBO, Nigeria. Dr Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, National Advocate of the UNESCO REF Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) initiative and National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), led a UNESCO REF delegation on a working visit to the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.

The visit advanced the national rollout of YWA, the UNESCO REF flagship programme that empowers young women aged 18 to 35 in agriculture and agribusiness, strengthens food security and advances sustainable development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Purpose of the visit

Objet de la visite

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

1. Present the objectives and scope of the YWA initiative.
2. Explore Osun State’s active participation and leadership in programme implementation.
3. Strengthen institutional partnerships for grassroots delivery.
4. Highlight the programme’s alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Key outcomes

Principaux résultats

• The Governor’s commitment. Governor Adeleke reaffirmed Osun State’s readiness to collaborate with UNESCO REF and POWA in advancing agricultural empowerment for women and youth.
• Benefits to participants. The delegation set out the programme’s structured income opportunities, job creation and international certification for participants.
• Strategic alignment. Discussions addressed how the initiative responds to poverty, gender inequality and food security challenges in Osun State.
• A joint working framework. Both parties agreed to establish a joint working framework to ensure the effective rollout of the programme in the State.

Why it matters

Les enjeux

Women are central to Africa’s food systems, yet they work at a structural disadvantage. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports a 24 per cent gender gap in productivity between women and men farmers on farms of equal size, and finds that women in agricultural wage employment earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. Closing these gaps, FAO estimates, would increase global GDP by nearly US$1 trillion and reduce the number of food-insecure people by 45 million.

For Nigeria the stakes are immediate. The Cadre Harmonisé analysis projected that about 34.7 million Nigerians would face food insecurity in the June to August 2026 lean season. Equipping young women with skills, certification and income in agriculture is one of the most direct responses available.

Diplomatic significance

Portée diplomatique

The presence of Dr Mrs Egbetokun, as YWA National Advocate and National President of POWA, underlined the programme’s gender-inclusive vision and the collective resolve of women leaders to champion agricultural transformation. It also demonstrated UNESCO REF’s commitment to engaging state leadership at the highest level, so that the initiative is both nationally owned and globally aligned.

The visit builds on an established partnership. UNESCO REF, POWA and the Ogun State Government agreed in September 2023 to collaborate on YWA, with a plan to mobilise 100,000 women in that State. In July 2025, at its 61st anniversary, POWA inaugurated the National Soil to Security Campaign Team under the UNESCO REF SIP-ALPHA framework, to reach 12 million young women aged 18 to 35 with agribusiness education and to train and certify 12 million YWA Champions by 2030.

Osun State is also a leading partner of UNESCO REF in other programmes. It is the first sub-national government in Nigeria to implement The VOICE Initiative for women with disabilities.

A milestone in the national rollout

Une étape majeure du déploiement national

The working visit to Osun State marks a significant milestone in the nationwide rollout of Young Women in Agriculture. With the support of Governor Adeleke and his administration, UNESCO REF and POWA will proceed to establish the joint working framework for delivery in the State, empowering women and youth, strengthening food security and contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

Learn more about the programme on the Young Women in Agriculture page and read further coverage at the UNESCO REF Media Centre.

ENDS