…Announces N20.2bn support for 450 women, youth entrepreneurs in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna
…250 smallholder farmer cooperatives too
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Sequel to the introduction of the Canada’s Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security on March 6, 2025, the Canadian Government has disclosed plans to create 8,000 jobs from a budget of N20.2 billion in Nigeria, particularly in Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna States.
The Minister of International Development of Canada, Ahmed Hussen, announced the new initiative under the Resilient and Inclusive Agri-food Systems Empowering Women and Youth (RISE) project.
The plan, according to a statement made available to Daily Sun by the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, aimed to support women and youth entrepreneurs in Bauchi, Kano, and Kaduna States.
“Canada and Africa share a rich history of collaboration and partnership, built on decades of mutual respect and shared goals. Following the introduction of Canada’s Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security on March 6, 2025, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development of Canada, announced a new initiative aimed at empowering women and youth in northern Nigeria.
“The Resilient and Inclusive Agri-food Systems Empowering Women and Youth (RISE) project will directly support approximately 450 women and youth-owned or led agribusinesses and 250 smallholder farmer cooperatives. The project will foster inclusive economic growth and resilience, and result in the creation of 8,000 jobs. With a budget of more than 20.2 billion naira (Can$19.2 million), this initiative seeks to economically empower women and youth, and enhance food security in Nigeria’s Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states. It will improve the productivity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers in key agriculture value chains and raise the business performance of womenand youth-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The 5-year project will be implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) of Canada, a non-governmental organization, along with Nigerian partners,” the Canadian Government said.
The Canadian Government added that the strategy represented a robust new foreign policy designed to mutually benefit Canadian and African partners, contributing to Canada and Africa’s collective economic prosperity, as well as to global health, peace and security.
The Canadian Government also said the Africa strategy will guide Canada’s work with African partners by increasing mutually beneficial economic opportunities, including through job creation, infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth.
The strategy, the government stated, will further guide the Canadian Government in partnering on peace and security challenges, including preventing and responding to conflict; preventing and countering terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime; and strengthening democracy, human rights and inclusion in decision making; continuing to develop partnerships on sustainable development, including investing in African youth skills training and health; strengthening the trade and development nexus; and continuing to address the root causes of conflict; advancing shared priorities on the international stage to address global challenges, including climate change, and mutually beneficial interests and strengthening diplomatic and people-to-people ties at all levels, including via African diaspora communities in Canada, to support Canadian partnerships across all lines of effort.
“Canada’s Africa Strategy includes over $869.5 million in new funding to support more than 50 international development and humanitarian assistance projects across the continent. These investments will drive economic prosperity, climate action, good governance, global health, and peace and security, strengthening Canada’s enduring partnership with Africa and supporting locally led solutions for sustainable development. Over the last five years, Canada has invested approximately Can$4.5 billion in bilateral international assistance programming in Africa to help build African economies, support health and education, and respond to humanitarian needs. In Nigeria, Canada has invested more than Can$345 million in international bilateral assistance in the last five years, contributing to strengthening health systems, supporting women’s economic participation and providing humanitarian assistance. Programming under the strategy will support existing priorities and provide a greater focus on economic cooperation and peace and security partnerships.
“Guided by this new Africa strategy and as part of its commitment to results, Canada looks forward to developing even stronger and broader ties with Africa,” the Canadian Government also said.
Speaking on the initiative, Hussen said: “Empowering women and youth in Nigeria’s agri-food sectors creates good jobs and economic growth that supports local communities and enhances sustainable food security. Through projects like this, we are investing in Canada and Africa’s collective economic prosperity, which strengthens global peace and security for us all.”
Also speaking, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, said: “Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, providing most of the population—especially in the rural areas—livelihoods. Despite that, women and youth—who form the bulk of the workforce—are more often marginalized in accessing resources and markets. The RISE project, as designed, is aimed to address the barriers they face. By investing in womenand youth-led businesses and cooperatives, this project is not only providing technical support but also empowering women and youth to lead their communities toward economic recovery and resilience. This builds on the successes achieved by the Nigeria WAY project, implemented by MEDA and Global Affairs Canada, which worked to support 294 womenand youth-run small-scale businesses to create wealth by promoting value chain development in rice, peanut and soybean processing as well as the establishment of 590 savings groups across seven Local Government Areas in Bauchi State, Nigeria.”
On his part, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said: “In Northern Nigeria, women are at the frontline of food production. In a time of economic uncertainty, this project offers a unique opportunity to address inequalities that have hindered the advancement of women and youth. By equipping them with the resources and knowledge to thrive, the RISE project is fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that women and youth’s contributions to the economy are fully recognized and supported.”
Also commenting on the development, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, said: “Nigeria has bursting potential in its agricultural sector, but faces big challenges, including the severe effects of climate change, like flooding and desertification. Supporting the empowerment of women and youth and arming them with climate-smart technology will help Kano advance its development and economic goals. I look forward to seeing the RISE project help do this.”