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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The wife of Benue State Deputy Governor, Mrs Christy Sam Ode, has established a foundation ; Evergreen Women Farmers Foundation, with the vision to make, at least one woman, in every household in the state, an active farmer.
Christy disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi while speaking to newsmen on some of her plans to empower women in the state.
She said Evergreen Women Farmers Foundation has been registered and will commence full activities soon.
The deputy governor’s wife said she decided to focus on agriculture because it holds the biggest capacity to create chains of opportunities for women and the youth.
She said, “I want women to go into farming. God has blessed our land. I am telling the women that in whatever way they can, they should help each other and encourage each other.
“We want to support women with seedlings, fertiliser and whatever we can, but the truth is that women need to come out and go into farming so that there will be enough food for the home and also for profit making.
Mrs Ode explained that the initiative was her own way of supporting the efforts of the Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, in placing women in the forefront of the state’s development.
“In Benue State, the Governor is trying by giving good positions to women. As you know without women, there will be no men.
“As women, we are seeking for the men take us more into everything they are doing, so that we also will be strong,” she added.
Mrs Ode said women had shown that they were a force to reckon with in politics as they provide the biggest political base in the country.
“When it is election day, the women are everywhere and when they tell you yes, their yes is yes, so we are asking those in leadership position to carry the women along.”
She said that though as Christians and Muslims, the religions places women under the men, but it’s important to encourage the women to contribute to every facet of societal growth and development.
“We don’t have to go across what we are not supposed to do; we are trying our best to work together as a team, to be humble so that the men will understand us better and the religion will accept us the way we are.”
She advised women in political and administrative positions, “to support each other and be your sisters keepers so that we can grow stronger than we are now.”
