SDF, Osun Govt Train 500 Women In Farming, Entrepreneurship With N50,000 Grants

The Springtime Development Foundation (SDF), in collaboration with the Veronica Adeleke Empowerment Initiative and the Osun State Ministry of Women Affairs, has trained about 500 women drawn from 30 local government areas of Osun State in domestic farming and entrepreneurship skills.

As part of the programme, the state government also provided financial support, giving each beneficiary a grant of N50,000.

The empowerment exercise, which took place on Thursday at the Springtime Foundation headquarters in Ede, was designed to teach women practical ways to engage in farming within their home compounds.

The Chairman of Springtime Development Foundation, Dr Deji Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Banji Adesuyi, disclosed that the empowerment programme was packaged under the Veronica Adeleke Women Empowerment targeted at making women economically independent.

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According to Dr Deji,“This women empowerment scheme is the first of its kind in the state and participants were drawn from the 30 Local Government Councils and the Area office.

“In all we have 500 participants for this phase after which other women groups would be given the opportunity. Our target is 1, 000 women and we will definitely reach the number” Dr Deji added.

Some of the training the women went through, include, organic compound farming in vegetable, coco yam, snail breading and poultry farming”, he added.

Speaking, the Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Hon. Ayobola Awolowo, commended Governor Adeleke for his commitment to empower women and fostering development in the state.

Awolowo emphasized that the initiative would enable women to sustain themselves and their businesses, contributing to economic independence.

However, Chairperson of Atakumosa West,Hon. Mrs. Dada Bukola praised the governor’s dedication to the people of Osun, particularly women, and commended the organizers for their efforts.

She highlighted the initiative’s potential to create lasting impacts by enabling women to stand on their own.

Mrs. Aroke Oluwakemi, wife of the Chairman of Ife South Local Government, also expressed appreciation for the program, noting its role as a vital support system for women, especially those with limited resources.

“This initiative really supports and serves as a backup for the beneficiaries, especially people that have nothing to do. This will also support some businesses,” she said.

Adeyeni Aderonke Deborah, a beneficiary from Ilesa West Local Government, expressed gratitude to Governor Adeleke and the Springtime Development Foundation.

She noted that the training provided through the program equips women to farm independently, reducing reliance on others for survival

“With this program, we were taught how to farm in our compound. We therefore henceforth won’t depend on anyone for survival,” she stated.