Women Aligned for Growth, WAG, has distributed food packs to vulnerable women in Lagos as part of an intervention aimed at providing immediate relief while helping beneficiaries achieve long-term economic independence.
The organisation distributed 10kg food packs to vulnerable women on Thursday, August 20, in partnership with HIRON Foundation, Bomarah Foundation, BAM Foundation, Helen Otti Women Empowerment Foundation, HOWEF, Feed My People Foundation, Christy Ray Okoye Foundation and Bimbeads Concept.
The intervention, held under the theme, “Together, We Feed Hope. Together, We Empower Lives,” brought together women-led organisations, volunteers, donors and supporters.
The initiative was designed to respond to the immediate needs of women and families facing economic hardship.
However, WAG said its intervention would go beyond food distribution, with plans already underway to equip vulnerable women and youths with skills in organic agriculture and sustainable food production.
The Executive Chair of WAG, Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi, said the food distribution represented the immediate humanitarian component of the organisation's intervention, while the next phase would focus on helping beneficiaries develop sustainable sources of income.
Nwakwesi said WAG was developing an initiative under its National Organic Food Sovereignty Programme to train vulnerable women and youths in organic agro-cultivation and other agricultural activities capable of supporting household income and food production.
She said the programme, tagged “Organic Agro-Cultivation for Vibrant Families,” would expose participants to practical areas such as sack and urban farming, organic cultivation, livestock and pasture development and regenerative agriculture.
The programme is also expected to include lessons on healthy food choices, disease prevention and healthy living, with Tai Chi incorporated into the organisation's broader wellness approach.
According to Nwakwesi, the objective is to ensure that women who currently require humanitarian support can gradually acquire the skills and resources needed to produce food, generate income and provide for their families.
She said the organisation's philosophy was based on the connection between healthy soil, healthy food and healthy families.
“My contribution plants seeds of independence,” is the message guiding the campaign as WAG seeks support for the next phase of the programme.
The Head of the WAG Vulnerable Women and Youth Impact Committee, Amede Olisa-Achingale, is also supporting efforts to extend the proposed agricultural programme to more vulnerable women and young people.
WAG is now calling on philanthropists, corporate organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the initiative with funding, agricultural inputs, farming tools, land, training materials and other resources.
The organisation said such support would enable more women to participate in the programme and move beyond short-term relief towards sustainable livelihoods.
The food distribution was supported by several organisations, including the Iyom Christie Ray Okoye Foundation, Bomarah Foundation, HOWEF Foundation, HIRO Foundation, BAM Foundation and Bimbeads Concept.
For WAG, the intervention represents two connected approaches to addressing vulnerability: providing food to families in need today while creating opportunities for beneficiaries to become more self-reliant tomorrow.
Nwakwesi reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to women's empowerment, food security, organic food sovereignty and sustainable development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The organisation said its long-term goal is to build stronger communities by helping vulnerable women acquire practical skills, improve household food security and develop sustainable sources of livelihood.