In furtherance to strengthen partnership with key players in the agriculture value chains, IFTDO-CYWEE, Africa recently paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian foremost Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, Nigeria recently for the purpose of collaboration
and seeking transfer of technology and skills to empower women in agrobusiness across the country.
Dr. Janet Jolaoso, Chairman CYWEE Africa and Asia lead the team to the Federal Agency on Technology in the country.
The team was accorded warm reception by the FIIRO Director General, Dr. Jummai Tutuwa and her Management team during the visit.
Dr. Jummai cordially welcomed Dr. Jolaoso and CYWEE members on the visit.
In her welcome address, Dr. Jummai assured the visiting CYWEE team that the Agency will continue to accelerate industrialization and forge a sustainable partnership with key stakeholders including CYWEE in Nigeria, aim at enhancing social and economic activities in Nigeria.
Dr. Janet Jolaoso in her response, shared the mission of CYWEE globally which is “to ensure equal opportunities for women, network, mobilize support and be in partnership with key stakeholders to correct the global gender imbalance”.
She made a short presentation of IFTDO-CYWEE’s objectives, mode of operations, key Women and Youth empowerment projects executed and the need to reach out to FIIRO with the visit.
She hinted that the purpose of the visit was to collaborate with the Agency in the areas of technology initiatives and skills transfer to empower women in the area of agrobusiness to fast track their production value chains through the help of technology and capacity building with locally fabricated machines by FIIRO to make life easy to them while pursuing means of living livelihood and contributing to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in agriculture practice.
Prof. Tayo George in her contribution said that CYWEE was looking for agency that can assist in the area of locally fabricated machines to process agriculture produce most especially gari and FIIRO came handy based on its pedigree in the technological innovative milestones.
In her response, the FIIRO DG, Dr. Tutuwa confirmed that the needs of IFTDO-CYWEE Africa are within the mandates and capacity of the FIIRO. According to her “when it comes to local fabrication of equipment, the training for skills transfer and utilization of their products, FIIRO is an unrivalled premier Agency in Nigeria”.
She expressed the Agency’s willingness and readiness to enter into Memorandum of Understanding with CYWEE and ready to work amicably for the mutual benefits of both organizations.
To drive home their points on available Machines Fabrication and workability of the proposed mutual agreement, the FIIRO’s Director General lead her team and took CYWEE visiting team round the Agency’s Fabrication centre on a tour guide to various sections including Cassava Processing Plant.
At the end of the Plant’s tour, Dr. Janet Jolaoso was engaged by the Press on her team’s impression and their purpose of the visit.
In her response, she hinted that gari is the most stable food in Nigeria and cassava grow without much efforts.
“There are many women in this business and that’s why CYWEE is looking for a way to collaborate with FIIRO in the area of fabrication of equipment product development and training for skills transfer which are beyond the reach of an average agrobusiness woman-entrepreneur.
Mrs. Folake Davies, FIIRO’s Deputy Director, Planning, Technical Training Information Management informed the team and local press that the most important aspect of the Agency’s operations is the production and development of agriculture machineries, training of trainers as well as the end users.
The Agency has done that over the years, “she said.
The outcome of the visit will eventually yield the mutual agreement between the CYWEE and FIIRO on required machine fabrications, training and utilization of same to support women in agrobusiness under CYWEE scheme.
Dr. Janet Jolaoso was accompanied on the visit by CYWEE members such as Prof. Tayo George, Engr. Rufus Adetoye, Dr. Olasunkade Azeez and Arc. Timothy Jolaoso.