Industry leaders and civil society organisations have demanded immediate policy reforms to unlock women's economic participation in Nigeria's mining and agriculture sectors. The call came during a high-level roundtable in Jos organised by Ziva Community Initiative (ZCI) in partnership with Women in Mining, where speakers warned that structural barriers continue to block women from accessing finance, land ownership, and leadership roles.
Participants at the roundtable stressed that women remain largely excluded from the wealth-generating opportunities that both sectors offer despite their massive contribution to Nigeria's economy. The mining sector generates billions of naira annually for the federal government through royalties and tax revenues, while agriculture engages tens of millions of rural Nigerians. Yet women farmers and miners struggle to access the same credit facilities, land titles, and business networks that their male counterparts enjoy.
The Jos meeting brought together government officials, mining company executives, agricultural stakeholders, and women entrepreneurs to address what many described as a longstanding problem. Speakers noted that women face discrimination when applying for bank loans, encounter resistance when trying to register land in their names, and are often shut out of industry associations where business deals get negotiated and contracts awarded.
One major barrier identified was the lack of collateral. Most commercial banks in Nigeria require land deeds or property ownership as security before extending credit. Since many Nigerian women cannot easily obtain land titles due to customary law restrictions and family disputes, they find themselves unable to borrow money to expand farming operations, purchase mining equipment, or start related businesses. This creates a vicious cycle where women remain trapped in subsistence-level activities.
The roundtable also heard that women entrepreneurs in these sectors receive little support from government development programs. Federal and state ministries allocate substantial budgets for agricultural extension services, farm inputs, and small business grants, yet women often miss out because information about these programs does not reach them or because application processes favour male applicants with better connections to government offices.
Participants called on the federal government to amend property laws that discriminate against women, establish dedicated lending windows for female farmers and miners at development finance institutions, and strengthen enforcement of existing policies that promise women equal opportunity. They also urged state governments to reform customary land laws and ensure women can register property independently without needing a husband's or father's permission.
The agriculture ministry was asked to prioritise women in the distribution of improved seeds, fertilisers, and training programs. The mining ministry received calls to enforce affirmative action in mining licences, requiring companies to employ and promote women in technical and management positions. Civil society organisations committed to increasing advocacy and monitoring to ensure governments follow through on promised reforms.
Attendees agreed that unlocking women's economic potential in mining and agriculture would boost overall productivity, increase rural incomes, reduce poverty, and strengthen food security. They noted that countries like Rwanda and Kenya have made progress on women's economic inclusion through deliberate policy choices and enforcement, providing models that Nigeria could adapt.
The Ziva Community Initiative and Women in Mining said they would compile recommendations from the Jos roundtable into a formal policy brief for submission to the federal government within the next two months, with copies sent to state governors and relevant ministry officials.
