Rural Women Farmers Deserve More Than Celebration — Ada Owere Reveals What Must Change

Owerri, Imo State | October 16, 2026

As the world celebrates the contributions of rural women, Labour Party candidate for the House of Representatives, Owerri Federal Constituency, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, popularly known as Ada Owere, has called for urgent investment in rural communities, warning that inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance and poor market opportunities continue to undermine the potential of women farmers.

In a statement marking the 2026 International Day of Rural Women, observed on October 15, the former public figure and political aspirant stressed that rural women deserve more than ceremonial recognition, insisting that their contributions to food security, environmental protection and community development must be matched with practical support.

With this year’s theme, “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature,” Ada Owere described rural women as indispensable contributors to agricultural production, custodians of indigenous knowledge and vital protectors of biodiversity.

She noted that despite their enormous contributions to the agricultural sector, many rural women continue to struggle with inadequate roads, insecure land rights, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply and the burden of unpaid domestic responsibilities.

“This must change. Rural women deserve more than recognition; they deserve opportunity, investment, infrastructure and a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods,” she declared.

Two Pillars of Ada Owere’s Agenda Take Centre Stage

The Labour Party candidate said her commitment to rural women is reflected in two key pillars of her eight-point agenda: Pillar Four, Women and Girl-Child Advancement, and Pillar Six, Infrastructure and Community Development.

According to her, empowering rural women is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in household prosperity, food security and sustainable economic growth.

Under her women and girl-child advancement agenda, she pledged to advocate policies that would expand economic opportunities for women, strengthen women-led businesses and improve access to agricultural training, affordable financing, modern farming technology and better markets.

She also emphasised the need to empower rural women, widows and other vulnerable groups through skills acquisition and sustainable livelihood programmes.

On education, Ada Owere stressed that girls in rural communities must have access to quality education, digital literacy and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), alongside emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence.

She maintained that investing in the girl-child would help produce a new generation of agricultural innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and community leaders.

The Owerri Federal Constituency aspirant further called for greater participation of rural women in governance and decision-making, particularly on issues concerning agriculture, land use, environmental protection, healthcare and community development.

Poor Roads, Electricity and Water: The Challenges She Wants Addressed

Beyond economic empowerment, Ada Owere identified inadequate infrastructure as a major obstacle preventing rural women from maximising their productivity.

She explained that poor roads increase transportation costs, delay the movement of agricultural produce and expose farmers to avoidable post-harvest losses.

Similarly, limited access to electricity, potable water, modern markets and processing facilities restricts the ability of women farmers to preserve their produce, expand their businesses and earn better incomes.

To address these challenges, she said her Infrastructure and Community Development agenda would prioritise advocacy for the rehabilitation of rural and federal roads, rural electrification, solar street lighting, potable water, improved healthcare and educational facilities, modern markets and erosion control.

She emphasised that rural communities across Owerri Federal Constituency require sustained investment to unlock their economic potential and improve residents’ quality of life.

Ada Owere also stressed the importance of environmentally responsible development, noting that erosion control, sustainable land management, water conservation and the protection of natural resources are essential to agricultural productivity and community safety.

She said that, if elected, she would deploy legislative advocacy, oversight, budget engagement and constituency consultations to pursue these priorities in collaboration with relevant federal and state agencies, local governments, development partners and community stakeholders.

Why Rural Women Must Be at the Centre of Food Security

Ada Owere further argued that Nigeria’s food security ambitions would remain difficult to achieve without deliberate efforts to support women involved in producing, processing and distributing agricultural products.

She pointed to the designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer as an additional reason to strengthen the position of women in agricultural development and the transformation of food systems.

According to her, governments must close existing gaps in access to productive resources, strengthen women’s economic independence and ensure that agricultural policies reflect the realities of rural communities.

For Owerri Federal Constituency, she said, agriculture must be viewed not merely as a subsistence activity but as a viable pathway to enterprise development, job creation, wealth generation and community transformation.

She advocated improved market access, value addition and environmentally sustainable farming practices to help rural producers increase their earnings while protecting natural resources for future generations.

‘Your Work Matters, Your Future Matters’ — Ada Owere Tells Rural Women

In her message to rural women, the Labour Party candidate paid tribute to women who work tirelessly on farms, process food, trade in markets, care for their families and sustain their communities despite limited resources and inadequate recognition.

She stressed that their labour, knowledge, welfare and future must become priorities in development planning.

Ada Owere said her vision was to build an Owerri Federal Constituency where rural women have access to essential infrastructure, resources to establish thriving businesses, education and technology to compete in a changing world, and opportunities to participate meaningfully in public life.

She maintained that empowering women farmers would strengthen families, stimulate rural economies and promote environmental sustainability.

“When we empower rural women, we strengthen families. When we invest in rural communities, we unlock economic potential. When we support women farmers to care for Mother Nature, we protect our food systems and the future of generations to come,” she stated.

She called for a shift from annual celebrations to consistent investments that deliver measurable improvements in the lives of rural women and the communities they sustain.

Ada Owere concluded by reaffirming her political message of “Experience. Competence. Credibility. Compassion,” under the campaign slogan:

“Ada Owere for Me, for You, and for All.”