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For women in Kilankwa II, farming often comes with another challenge after harvest: processing their produce. High costs, long distances and the physical effort involved can make it difficult to turn their agricultural activities into sustainable income.
To address this, a new community milling and grinding facility was provided to the community by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from ActionAid Nigeria through the Partnership and Local Rights Programme (P&LRP), and handed over the facility to Kilankwa II Community in Kwali Area Council, FCT.
The intervention builds on years of work with the community, particularly in women’s economic empowerment, agriculture, financial independence and self-reliance. Through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), women have accessed finance and invested in productive activities, including cassava farming. However, processing remained a major gap.
The new facility is expected to bring processing closer to the community, helping women save time and money, reduce physical labour, add value to their produce and create new income opportunities.
The community has also taken ownership of the intervention. Residents provided land for the facility and established a management committee led by a woman to oversee its operation, finances, maintenance and sustainability.
The commissioning brought together 324 community members; 187 women, 137 men and three persons with disabilities, alongside traditional leaders, government representatives, CITAD and ActionAid Nigeria. Community members expressed appreciation for the facility and optimism about its potential to improve livelihoods.
Kilankwa II is the 18th P&LRP community in the FCT to benefit from this type of intervention.
More than a milling facility, the initiative demonstrates how community-identified solutions, women’s empowerment and productive infrastructure can work together to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
