Morgananle News / Communities
Two hundred rural women in Anambra State are set to receive 4,000 Noiler birds and other poultry support to strengthen their livelihoods and improve household income.
Lagos —
Two hundred rural women in Anambra State are set to strengthen their livelihoods through a new poultry empowerment initiative designed to help them build sustainable businesses and improve household income.
The intervention, known as the EMPOWER-Her Poultry Project, is providing the women with more than 4,000 Noiler birds, poultry feed, medications, training and technical support. The beneficiaries are drawn from Okija, Ogidi, Okpoko and Akpu communities.
The project was officially launched at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, bringing together government officials, community leaders, development partners and the women who will benefit from the programme.
The initiative is being implemented by BATN Foundation as part of its efforts to support women in rural communities through agriculture and enterprise development.
For many rural households, agriculture remains an important source of income. However, limited access to productive assets, finance, technical knowledge and markets can make it difficult for women to turn small-scale farming activities into stable businesses.
The EMPOWER-Her project is designed to address some of these challenges by combining productive assets with practical training and continued support.
Before receiving the poultry assets, the beneficiaries underwent training in poultry management, business development and enterprise sustainability. The training was conducted across four local government areas, including Ihiala, Idemili North, Ogbaru and Orumba South.
Rather than simply handing over birds to the women, the organisers said the programme is focused on helping beneficiaries develop enterprises that can continue beyond the initial intervention.
General Manager of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said the organisation wants to see the women develop thriving businesses, increase their incomes and strengthen the economic resilience of their households.
According to him, the programme goes beyond distributing poultry assets because beneficiaries also need the knowledge and support required to manage the businesses successfully.
The approach is particularly important because poultry farming can provide several income opportunities. Women can earn from eggs, poultry products and the gradual expansion of their farms.
However, starting a poultry business also requires proper feeding, disease prevention, record keeping and financial management. Without adequate knowledge, farmers can lose their investments quickly.
That is why the training component remains a major part of the intervention.
The Anambra State Government has also welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to expand economic opportunities for women and improve household stability.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Chinyere Onyekesi, commended the Foundation for bringing the programme to the state. She urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained during training and turn the support into sustainable and profitable businesses.
For the participating women, the intervention represents more than receiving poultry birds. It provides an opportunity to develop a source of income that could benefit their families and communities.
When women have reliable sources of income, the impact can extend beyond individual households. Increased earnings can support children’s education, household nutrition, healthcare and other essential needs.
In addition, successful small businesses can contribute to local economic activity by creating demand for feed, veterinary services, transportation and other services connected to the poultry value chain.
The project also comes at a time when food production and household income remain important concerns for many Nigerian families.
Supporting rural women to participate more actively in agriculture can therefore contribute to both economic empowerment and local food production.
The Anambra intervention follows a similar EMPOWER-Her poultry project previously implemented in Jigawa State, where 200 women also received poultry production assets, training and enterprise support.
The expansion to Anambra suggests an effort to replicate a model that combines women’s empowerment with agricultural enterprise.
Importantly, the organisers have emphasised sustainability. Beneficiaries are expected to manage the birds properly, build their businesses and reinvest proceeds to expand their poultry operations.
The Anambra State Government has also encouraged the women to see the intervention as a business opportunity rather than a short-term form of assistance.
This distinction matters because empowerment programmes can have greater community impact when beneficiaries are able to continue generating income after the initial support ends.
For the women involved, the next stage will therefore be turning the resources and training into viable enterprises.
Proper management will be essential. The beneficiaries will need to maintain good hygiene, provide appropriate feed, monitor the health of their birds and keep accurate business records.
They will also need to make careful decisions about sales and reinvestment so that their farms can grow over time.
Beyond the individual beneficiaries, the project could have a wider effect on the communities if the businesses become successful.
As the women increase production, they could create additional opportunities within their communities and encourage other residents to explore poultry farming as a source of livelihood.
The initiative also highlights the role partnerships can play in supporting grassroots development. Government agencies, private foundations, community leaders and beneficiaries all have roles to play in ensuring that such interventions achieve lasting results.
For the 200 women selected for the Anambra programme, the immediate priority is to nurture the birds, apply the skills gained during training and build businesses capable of supporting their families.
If successfully sustained, the intervention could provide more than poultry assets. It could help women develop stronger financial independence, improve household resilience and become more active participants in the local agricultural economy.
Ultimately, the success of the EMPOWER-Her project will not only be measured by the number of birds distributed.
Its greater impact will be seen in the businesses that emerge, the income generated, the households strengthened and the opportunities created within the communities.
For these women, the poultry farms could become the foundation for a more secure and sustainable livelihood.
