WOFAN Marketing Hubs transform labourers, rural farming communities to viable, productive agripreneurs

The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), through its WOFAN-ICON2 Project, has continued to transform rural communities and strengthen local economies through its over 105 marketing hubs established across different parts of the country, creating thousands of jobs for women, youths and vulnerable groups.

Speaking on the impact of the initiative, the WOFAN Group Executive Board Chair, Dr Salamatu Garba, said the marketing hubs were designed not only as trading centres but as development platforms that link smallholder farmers to structured and reliable markets which create dignified jobs that are inclusive of women, youths and people with disabilities.

According to her, the hubs have opened up new economic opportunities for people who were previously excluded from formal market systems, particularly women processors who only marketed their produce through middlemen that limit them to just marginal profit and ample visibility in the crop value chains.

“Today, these hubs have become vibrant centres of economic activity where youths work as traders, loaders and service providers, while women are deeply involved in processing and value addition,” Dr Garba said.

In his remarks, a male youth mega cluster leader for the WOFAN- ICON2 project, Tasiu Ibrahim, stated that community male youths have become great gender inclusion advocates.

Read Also: WOFAN celebrates rural women, promotes modern farming as key to self-reliance, food security

‘’This is achieved through the provision of the modern rice and grain processing machines, as well as solar-powered lighting, as an enabler in providing jobs for youths and women to work both day and night in a safe environment, increasing productivity, income and peaceful coexistence,’’ he said.

SolaceBase reports that across the hubs, young people who were once idle are now fully engaged in productive activities. Instead of being involved in criminal activities, many youths have now commenced working on shifts at the marketing hubs, earning a living through legitimate businesses.

Also, persons with disabilities are productively engaged in jute bag production, while many women process agricultural produce either at WOFAN centres or from their homes before supplying to different hubs, where their goods are bought and paid for instantly, either in cash or through bank transfers.

One of the community partners of the project, Fatima Ibrahim from Daurawar Sallau in Garin Mallam Local Government Area, Kano State, said women play a major role in the success of the WOFAN marketing hubs.

She noted that while many men now focus mainly on farming, women are involved in both farming and processing, which improves the quality of products and attracts more customers.

She explained that WOFAN provides machines and equipment for processing rice and other farm produce, which are later supplied to hubs in Kura, Karfi, Chiromawa and Tudun Wada.

“Even today, if WOFAN demands 100,000 bags of rice, we have them ready,” she said, adding that the hubs have made women financially independent as marketers, off- takers and commodity marchants from all parts of Nigeria all look out for the WOFAN marketing hubs as quality of produce is always assured because WOFAN consistently train and supervice them with ample extension delivery services.

Read Also: WOFAN inaugurates fourth marketing hub in Kano to support women processors

Similarly, Isma’il Ibrahim Chiromawa said WOFAN’s intervention has brought unprecedented development to the area. He stated that the organisation expanded the market, supported traders with capital and provided rice-processing machines, which attracted more customers and transformed their businesses.

Another community partner, Muhammad Auwal, said the presence of WOFAN has restored hope to many young people. He explained that youths now work in organised day and night shifts at the hubs because the centres are equipped with solar-powered lights that provide reliable lighting, allowing them to operate safely and productively even at night.

WOFAN, through its ICON2 Project supported by the Mastercard Foundation, has played a key role in expanding the organisation’s development impact. The project has empowered tens of thousands of women, youths and persons with disabilities by providing essential farming inputs such as improved seeds, fertilisers and agro-chemicals to boost both wet and dry season farming across several states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

The project also promotes inclusion by distributing starter packs to female produce marketers, enabling small businesses to grow and thrive. In addition, it has provided hearing aids and related medical support to people living with hearing impairments, helping to improve their economic participation and overall quality of life.

In line with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works–Nigeria Strategy, the WOFAN ICON2 Project aims to create dignified and sustainable employment opportunities for young people, with a strong focus on women and persons with disabilities.