Makinde-Daura Campaign Celebrates Rural Women, Hails Their Contributions to Sustainable Agriculture

Ibadan, Oyo State — October 15, 2026

The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has celebrated rural women across Nigeria for their resilience, creativity and invaluable contributions to sustainable agrifood systems as the world marks the International Day of Rural Women.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the organisation’s Director of National Women Coordination, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, said the campaign’s presidential candidate, His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde, recognised the critical roles rural women play in food production, environmental sustainability and community development.

Balogun commended rural women for preserving traditional agricultural practices, protecting biodiversity, managing water resources and restoring degraded land, noting that these valuable skills have been passed down through generations, from mothers to their children.

Describing rural women as the backbone of village life, she said their contributions extend far beyond farming to encompass food processing and preparation, traditional medicine, seed preservation, fishing, gathering wild foods, livestock rearing, sewing, cottage industries, cultural preservation, disaster management and the sustainable management of natural resources.

“A village is a living entity, and rural women are its mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses within cells; similarly, rural women are the powerhouses of village life,” Balogun stated.

She added that through their daily activities, rural women sustain households, strengthen local economies and preserve the cultural heritage of communities across Nigeria.

However, she lamented that despite their extensive contributions, the knowledge, hard work and management skills of rural women remain inadequately recognised within dominant knowledge systems and decision-making structures in the country.

According to her, rural women possess valuable indigenous knowledge in crop and seed selection, weather prediction, midwifery, weaving, cooking and traditional medicine. She stressed that such expertise represents generations of practical experience that deserve greater recognition, documentation and integration into agricultural development policies.

Citing figures attributed to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Balogun noted that women play a significant role in global food production, particularly in developing countries. She also highlighted research by the Commonwealth of Learning recognising women as essential contributors to agricultural labour and family subsistence.

Despite these contributions, she observed that rural women continue to face significant barriers to accessing land ownership, credit facilities, agricultural inputs, technology and other resources essential to improving productivity and livelihoods.

Balogun further referenced United Nations findings indicating that agricultural yields could increase substantially if women enjoyed equal access to productive resources as men.

She also drew attention to the global food insecurity challenge, citing the 2026 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), which she said estimated that approximately 645 million people were affected by hunger.

According to her, these challenges underscore the urgent need for inclusive agricultural policies that empower rural women, strengthen food systems and ensure that women have equal opportunities to contribute to national development.

“The Makinde-led Federal Government will not only uphold the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), but will also enact policies that remove systemic barriers to women’s access to human rights, economic opportunities and essential resources,” she stated.

The campaign organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender equality, expanding opportunities for women and ensuring that rural women receive the recognition and support they deserve for their contributions to food security, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Balogun concluded by wishing rural women across Nigeria a happy International Day of Rural Women, urging stakeholders at all levels to recognise their contributions and support policies that improve their welfare and economic empowerment.

Signed:

Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun
Director, National Women Coordination
Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation