NGO Empowers 135 Vulnerable Women in Plateau’s Irigwe Chiefdom with Agricultural Support

In a significant humanitarian gesture aimed at rebuilding lives and restoring livelihoods, a non-governmental organization (NGO), The Blessing Projects, has donated essential farm inputs to 135 vulnerable women in the Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State. The donation, made on Tuesday, comes just a week after the region experienced a wave of violent attacks that claimed over 50 lives and left many families devastated and displaced.

The initiative marks a proactive step towards addressing food insecurity and economic instability in the region by equipping affected women—mostly widows—with the means to restart their agricultural activities.

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Agriculture as a Path to Recovery and Empowerment

The focus keyword “Agriculture” defines the core of this intervention, which aims to empower women and promote self-reliance through farming. According to Mr. Lawrence Zongo, Project Manager of The Blessing Projects, the gesture is part of a larger empowerment program designed to improve the wellbeing of women and children left vulnerable by recent violence.

“Today, we officially launched a life-changing agricultural empowerment project for women in Irigwe land,” Zongo announced. “We have distributed improved seeds of maize, soya beans, and rice, along with herbicides, fertilizers, and other farming tools to 135 beneficiaries.”

The recipients of this initiative, Zongo explained, are predominantly widows whose husbands were victims of recent violent attacks. He stressed that these women had been left to fend for themselves in a region already grappling with insecurity and hardship.

“These women and their children have been abandoned and forgotten. So, this donation, which came through the support of individuals, is to empower them through agriculture to become self-sufficient,” he added.

In addition to the distributed inputs, Zongo disclosed that the organization had acquired two tractors to assist the women in cultivating larger areas of farmland, thereby enhancing their productivity and potential for income generation.

Rebuilding Hope Through Community Support

This agricultural empowerment drive is part of The Blessing Projects’ broader mission to rebuild communities torn apart by violence, especially in rural areas where economic alternatives are limited. By focusing on women—often the backbone of household economies—the organization hopes to foster long-term resilience and food security.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Tina Ashishe, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support, describing it as a much-needed source of hope after the traumatic losses suffered by the community.

“We are thankful for this kindness. With these seeds and tools, I will return to the farm and do my best to support my children. We will not let this opportunity go to waste,” she said.

A Response to Violence with Sustainability

The Irigwe Chiefdom has, over the years, experienced recurring episodes of communal violence and conflict, often resulting in mass displacement and the destruction of livelihoods. In the latest attacks, lives were lost and farmland destroyed, plunging many households into uncertainty and despair.

The Blessing Projects’ agricultural intervention is therefore timely, not just in restoring economic activity but also in providing psychological relief and a sense of purpose to survivors.

Local leaders and community members have lauded the NGO’s efforts, urging other organizations and government bodies to emulate the gesture. There are also calls for increased security in Bassa LGA to ensure that women and farmers can access and cultivate their land safely.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Agricultural Resilience

Beyond immediate aid, experts stress the importance of long-term agricultural resilience programs that incorporate training, access to markets, and cooperative farming models. With enhanced support systems, communities like Irigwe can move from dependency to productivity, fostering peace and prosperity even in the face of adversity.

The Blessing Projects’ intervention, built on the pillars of compassion, sustainability, and empowerment, serves as a powerful reminder of how agriculture can become not just a means of survival but a pathway to recovery and transformation for vulnerable communities.