By Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Stakeholders under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme have called for improved access to productive land and affordable agricultural finance for women and youth in Kano State.
They also advocated greater representation of women and young people in leadership and decision-making positions within the agricultural sector.
The stakeholders made the call at a one-day advocacy engagement held in Kano on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with the theme, “Advocacy for Improved Access to Land, Finance and Representation of Women and Youth in Leadership Roles through the Gender Action Learning System (GALS).”
SAPZ Programme Coordinator, Aliyu Iliyasu, said the engagement was organised to identify practical solutions to barriers limiting the participation of women and youth in agriculture and economic development.
Iliyasu, represented by a project official, Kabiru Ya’u, stressed the importance of empowering women to contribute more effectively to household and community development.
“When women are empowered, they contribute to building stronger families and better communities,” he said.
Ya’u added that promoting the dignity and active participation of women was consistent with religious and cultural values.
SAPZ Communication Officer, Rabi Mustapha, said women and youth already make significant contributions to agriculture and economic development but continue to face difficulties in accessing land, finance and decision-making opportunities.
“Women’s voices need to be heard, and women are equally capable of contributing meaningfully to farming and agricultural development,” Mustapha said.
She stressed the need for programmes that connect women and young people with financial opportunities to expand their agricultural and other economic activities.
Presenting the Gender Action Learning System, Sunday Galadima described GALS as a participatory approach designed to promote gender equality, joint household planning, collective action and inclusive decision-making.
According to him, the system enables individuals, households and communities to identify challenges, develop solutions collectively and take ownership of the process of change.
The Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Investment, said the state government would facilitate access to interest-free loans for women to enable them to expand their businesses and other economic activities.
Participants identified limited access to productive land, high financing costs, inadequate financial literacy, complicated loan application procedures and poor representation in leadership as major obstacles confronting women and youth.
They also expressed concern over social perceptions that women were unsuitable for farming, warning that such attitudes could restrict their access to farmland, financing and agricultural support services.
The stakeholders called for affordable and appropriate financial products, including financing arrangements compatible with the religious and cultural preferences of communities.
They also urged stronger collaboration among government agencies, traditional and religious institutions, community leaders and financial institutions to improve access to land and agricultural finance.
The participants maintained that women and youth should be given meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making rather than being included merely for symbolic representation.
They further advocated increased financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, stronger cooperatives and simpler procedures for accessing agricultural finance.
As part of their resolutions, stakeholders committed to promoting at least 50 per cent participation and access to opportunities for women and youth in relevant programmes and development initiatives, where applicable.
They also pledged to support equitable access to land, financial inclusion, women and youth leadership, positive social norms and collective community action.
The participants agreed to undertake follow-up advocacy visits, document commitments made by stakeholders, organise community-level GALS activities and periodically assess progress on agreed action points.
In their final declaration, they urged the Kano State Government, traditional and religious leaders, financial institutions and community organisations to translate the commitments made at the engagement into concrete and measurable actions.
They said improved access to land, finance, knowledge and leadership opportunities for women and youth would strengthen households, build resilient communities and promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Kano State.
Participants included government officials, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, financial institutions, farmers, and women and youth groups from Dawakin Tofa, Garun Malam, Kura and Bebeji local government areas.
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