The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor On Gender, Hon Olamide Falana, has declared that Ondo state under the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is attending the SDGs through Agro women budgeting.
According to Falana, Ondo state has also been identified as the first state in southwest and indeed Nigeria to have a specific budget line for women in agriculture.
The Special Adviser stated this in Akure yesterday while declaring open Workshop On The Usage Of Agrowomen Budget Line organised by Life and Peace Development Organisation (LAPDO) with the support from Palladium/USAID, in conjunction with the State Government, the Anchor Cluster led by Mr. Franklin Oloniju.
She pointed out that “it is a reflection of the commitment of Mr Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi to gender equality and rural and agricultural development which indeed is the R of the REDEEMED Agenda.
“The success of agro women financing led to Ondo State receiving support from ACTIONAID for another women and girls agriculture financing that will target 9,000 beneficiaries in 2023.
“Not only that, the government specifically is interested in ensuring
that women are encouraged going into agriculture by making substantial budgetary provision in the 2023 budget for women folks that are genuinely willing to go into agriculture to access.
“It is noteworthy that Ondo state government, ably led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu is the first state in southwest and indeed Nigeria to have a specific budget line for agro women. This is laudable as the state is set towards achieving the
SDGs using gender equality in public financing as a vehicle. This also reflects the staunch commitment of Mr Governor to making better the lives of women, girls and special persons in the state through gender responsive policies and expenditure framework.
“With adequate funds already made available to our women coupled with water tight security in the State aided by the establishment of Amotekun corps across the state and farming communities, I am of the opinion that our women will take advantage of this
opportunity to move the economic situation of their family and the State forward and by extension, empowering themselves thereby increasing their consumption power.
“To achieve a seamless and judicious usage of Agro women budget line provision, it is essential that a masterplan on how it will be processed and disbursed should be
properly mapped out from the onset. Hence, the need for this meeting becomes valid and inevitable at this point in time,” Falana said.
In a remark, the Anchor Cluster led by Mr. Franklin Oloniju, who said it will also go a long way in value chain addition to their individual products also stressed that women have particularly proven themselves overtime to be dedicated and committed to achieving set goals.
Oloniju also applauded foreign agencies for partnering with the state and interacting with the budget line for the good of women in agriculture.
