Group moves to boost women empowerment in Taraba
The Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, in its commitment to women’s empowerment and sustainable community development, has laid the foundation for a new Women’s Centre in Bodel, a community around Gashak Gumti National Park in Taraba State.
The groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to create opportunities for women across Nigeria’s underserved communities.
Apart from being a vital platform for women to harness their skills, strengthen livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to local and national economic development, the Women’s Centre in Bodel is to serve the southern sector of the Gashaka Gumti National Park and will complement a similar facility in the northern sector of the park in Toungo, Adamawa State.
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BusinessDay reports that the facilities were inaugurated a few months back.
Nacha Geoffrey, ANI Foundation’s Country Manager, speaking during the foundation laying, stated that “the Centre is more than a building but a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and progress for women in Gashaka Gumti National Park”.
He emphasised that the Women’s Centre is a testament to how deliberate investments in women can lead to stronger families, thriving communities, and a more prosperous Nigeria.
“The heart of the Women’s Centre will be a semi-mechanised shea butter processing facility. The Centre will include a warehouse to receive raw shea nuts, machinery to process shea nuts into shea butter and a storage area to sell the finished products, this hub for shea butter processing will be the first in Taraba State and will feed into the Federal Government’s push to boost domestic production of shea butter in Nigeria.
“The centre will also house facilities for other income-generating ventures, including poultry farming, tree seedling production and allied agri-processing enterprises. This is expected to unlock economic opportunities for women in the region by linking them to local and global value chains.
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“To ensure durability and sustainability, ANI Foundation has already produced about 5,000 hydro-form blocks for the project. The blocks and other eco-friendly materials will not only provide a solid structural foundation but also reflect the foundation’s commitment to environmentally responsible development practices.
“Tunde Morakinyo, ANI Foundation’s Executive Director, stated, “ANI has a vision to make Gashaka Gumti National Park an economic asset for Nigeria, generating employment for the local communities and revenue for the country. Empowering women is central to achieving this”, Geoffrey stated.
