In a significant stride toward inclusive economic growth, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has unveiled a state-of-the-art marketing hub in Karfi to bolster vocational skills and empower women processors and People with Disabilities (PWDs). The initiative has provided 450 PWDs with startup kits, equipping them to pursue dignified and profitable employment opportunities.
At the launch event, Dr. Salamatu Garba, Country Director of the WOFAN-ICON2 Project, alongside Kano Desk Officer Alhaji Dayyabu Abubakar, emphasized that the new hub would allow women to control their marketing processes while utilizing enhanced negotiation skills developed through WOFAN training programs. “This facility empowers women by giving them autonomy over their resources, thereby increasing profitability and ensuring their voices are heard on critical issues,” Dr. Garba remarked.
This project is a key component of the five-year WOFAN-ICON2 initiative, supported by the Mastercard Foundation, which aims to create sustainable employment for youth, women, and PWDs across ten Nigerian states. The Karfi marketing hub is the second of its kind in the Kura Local Government Area, following a similar facility established in Kura Market—an ethical market renowned for trading over 500 truckloads of grains daily to both domestic and international destinations.
Represented by Jamilu Magaji, the District Head of Karfi, Alhaji Magaji Shehu, congratulated the beneficiaries and noted that the initiative would yield far-reaching benefits for the entire community. Gratitude and determination were echoed by beneficiaries such as Sanaya Isah, Safiya Isah Kura, Rakiya Rabi’u, Haruna Sule Karfi, and Sule Shehu, all of whom vowed to use the support judiciously.
The marketing hub comprises three distinct areas: an office space for members to discuss business strategies within Karfi Market and two dedicated shops for operational business activities. This new facility is set to transform local business dynamics and further the cause of inclusive, sustainable development in the region.
