WOFAN unveils leadership transition, strategies for year four of WOFAN-ICON2 project
The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has officially unveiled its strategic plans for the upcoming fourth year of the WOFAN-ICON2 project, alongside a leadership transition announced during its 2025Year-End Review Meeting held in Abuja in December 2025.
At the event, WOFAN’s Executive Director, Dr Salamatu Garba, highlighted the organization’s commitment to enhancing its operations through a newly revised leadership structure and targeted initiatives for Year Four of the ICON2 project.
SolaceBase reports that this strategic evolution follows WOFAN’s expanded engagement in global networks and international policy initiatives aimed at empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities across Africa, Europe, and the Arab regions.
Dr. Garba announced that daily leadership responsibilities for the WOFAN-ICON2 project will now be managed by Hajiya Maimuna Lawal, who will serve as the Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability, alongside Mr. Taiwo Olawale, the Business Development and Coordination Manager.
According to her, together, they will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. Additional key appointments include Hajiya Maryam Lawal as Gender Specialist and FCT Team Lead, Abdulrasheed Abdulazeez as Financial Manager, and Dr Haruna Zakari as the Regional Agronomist within the ten operational states of the WOFAN-ICON2 project.
Dr. Garba will transition to the position of Executive Board Chair and Regional Head of the Global WOFAN Alliance Program, where she will focus on enhancing empowerment support and promoting inclusivity in gender, financial engagement, and trade on a global scale.
All leadership appointments will take effect on January 5, 2026.
Expressing confidence in the newly appointed leadership, Dr Garba praised their professionalism and dedication, noting that they are long-standing staff members of WOFAN with over 18 years of experience, thereby demonstrating a steadfast commitment to advancing the organisation’s mission.
The review meeting served to assess the successes achieved under the WOFAN-ICON2 project over the past three years, while also outlining plans for interventions in Year Four. These initiatives are set to prioritize the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs), logistics service providers, and micro agro-marketers, and will clarify the roles of extension workers from Years One to Three, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned with the new phase of implementation.
In his remarks, Mr. Taiwo Olawale further elaborated on WOFAN’s revolving schemes, which include the WOFAN Startup Grant, input produce grants, logistics riders’ revolving scheme, and a heavy-duty machinery revolving scheme featuring tractors and combine harvesters. He emphasized that these initiatives have significantly contributed to the business growth of community partners and underscored the importance of proper reporting and accountability.
In her remarks, Hajiya Maimuna Lawal expressed her gratitude to the Executive Director for her exemplary leadership, unwavering support, and commitment to humanitarian efforts.
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She provided a comprehensive overview of the WOFAN-ICON2 project and acknowledged the progress made despite challenges such as climate change and fluctuations in market prices. Hajiya Maimuna urged partners to enhance market access and value-added initiatives while outlining the key objectives of the meeting.
Maimuna emphasized that, as part of its efforts to sustain, strategize and transform its network for growth and inclusivity, the organization will continue its capacity-building initiatives. This includes conducting training sessions for extension workers and community partners on essential topics such as food hygiene, financial literacy, value addition, and food processing.
Hajiya Maimuna concluded by highlighting the critical role of mentorship and guidance in ensuring organizational sustainability, assuring stakeholders that WOFAN is well-positioned for ongoing growth and impactful contributions.
Additionally, Mr Abdulrasheed Abdulazeez underscored the significance of proper documentation and effective utilization of WOFAN’s reporting platforms, emphasizing the need for financial alignment with the activity framework.
He advised participants on best reporting practices, including the necessity of using clear and informative photographs that accurately represent project activities, noting that effective visual communication is vital for transparency and impactful storytelling.
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