Olam Agri partners with SCAAD to empower women and youth in Nasarawa, Benue

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Olam Agri, in partnership with Sustainable Collective Advocacy for Africa Development (SCAAD) Initiative, will this week launch the CROWY Project, aiming to create lasting positive change for women and youth across Nigeria’s North-Central region.

The Community Resilience Opportunities for Women and Youth (CROWY) Project ground-breaking initiative is designed to empower grassroots women and youth farmers, aligning with national development and gender equality objectives.

The project aims to strengthen livelihoods during off-farming seasons by equipping beneficiaries with strategic leadership skills, entrepreneurship training, and increased awareness on inclusion, gender equality, and early warning signs and systems related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Delivered in collaboration with Rich-Oak Life Initiative, Sahel International Support Foundation, and Elikizi Foundation for Women and Youth Advancement, the CROWY Project seeks to close critical economic gaps by providing inclusive livelihood opportunities, access to cooperative financing, and leadership support for emerging women and youth-led enterprises.

We aim to create 10 Village Savings and Loan Associations and support 100 of women and youth entrepreneurs within the first year in the fields of tailoring, baking amongst others.
This intervention will expand economic opportunities, promote self-employment, and build sustainable and resilient livelihoods across the targeted communities.
Across Nigeria, women, youth, and persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers to education, livelihoods, and leadership pathways. Recent statistics highlight the urgency of this challenge.

In 2023, women’s labour force participation stood at just over 52%, down from nearly 57% in 2010 (Statista, 2023). Youth unemployment remains critically high, with 53% of Nigerians aged 15–24 unemployed or underemployed (World Bank, 2024). According to Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, as of October 2025, approximately 70% of Nigerian women live in extreme poverty, unable to meet basic needs or sustain livelihoods (Vanguard, 2025). These figures paint a stark picture of structural inequalities that continue to undermine national development and social stability.

Statement by Frances Okeke, Executive Director, SCAAD Initiative: “Every day, we meet women and young people with immense creativity and resilience, yet without the support they need to thrive truly. Nigeria’s overlapping crises have made survival even harder for them, especially in farming communities where off-season periods often deepen economic vulnerability.

Through the support of Olam Agri, the CROWY Project is stepping into this gap, offering practical skills, livelihood opportunities, and hope to grassroots women and youth. Together, we are equipping individuals not only to earn a living during non-farming seasons but also to lead, innovate, and uplift their communities. When women and young people are given the tools to succeed, entire communities become more resilient and rise with them.”

Anil Nair, Country Head Olam Agri Nigeria added, “Our partnership with SCAAD Initiative on the CROWY Project reinforces our shared vision of resilient, empowered, and economically active communities. Women and youth are central to the future of agriculture in Nigeria and supporting them through targeted skills development and inclusive financing is essential for long-term national growth. Olam Agri will continue to champion initiatives that uplift vulnerable groups and strengthen the fabric of our communities.”

Olam Agri and SCAAD Initiative invite government agencies, community leaders, NGOs, and development partners to join in supporting inclusive livelihood strategies. Collaboration is vital to building resilient, equitable communities.

The partnership is committed catalyze efforts to enhance economic opportunities, promote self-employment, and build sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in conflict-affected communities.
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Olam Agri is a market leading, differentiated food, feed and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 35 years. With a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets and products across grains & oilseeds, wheat milling & pasta, rice, edible oils, specialty grains & seeds, animal feed & protein, cotton, wood products, rubber, sugar & bioenergy and risk management solutions, Olam Agri is at the heart of global food and agri-trade flows with 45.1 million MT in volume handled in 2024.