In Nigeria, the 2026 International Women’s Day was commemorated through an event organized by the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture under the Policy and Advocacy Support in States (PASS) Project, funded by AGRA with technical support from Synergos Nigeria.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Honourable Commissioner of the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, the Honourable Commissioner of the Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development, the Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, and the Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs.
Also in attendance were the State Programme Officer for Kaduna State, the Country Director of Synergos Nigeria, directors from the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies, representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), civil society organizations, private sector partners, non-governmental organizations, and farmer groups.
These included the Smallholder Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), alongside members of the media.
Beyond the ceremonial opening, the event focused on socializing the newly approved Kaduna State Gender Policy in Agriculture.
Highlights included a keynote address, a presentation outlining the policy’s key provisions, and a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Victor Adejoh, which explored how the policy can be translated into practical actions that promote gender-responsive agricultural development.
Dr. Esther Ibrahim, Program Officer for Kaduna State at AGRA, expresssed AGRA’s appreciation to the State Government and the Ministry of Agriculture for the approval of the Kaduna State Gender Policy in Agriculture. She also acknowledged Legal Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) for the development of the policy and to Synergos for the review as also pushing for approval by the State Executive Council.
Held under the theme “Advancing Gender Equity through Policy Implementation: The Kaduna State Gender Policy in Action,” the discussions emphasized the importance of strong partnerships and coordinated action to ensure that gender-responsive policies translate into tangible benefits for women farmers and agribusiness actors across Kaduna State.