WOFAN & NMPDC train 150 women groups on Moringa Oleifera (Zogale) products processing …

WOFAN in collaboration with the Nigerian Medicinal Plants Development Company Abuja (NMPDC) trained 150 women groups on Moringa Oleifera (Zogale) products processing and nutritious complimentary Baby food making from 3 senatorial districts of Katsina state.

The recognition of Moringa seed since July 2008 by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Abuja for water treatment was an official endorsement of the usefulness of Moringa plant in Nigeria which unveiled the new scientific discourse of the enormous potentials of Moringa for human and livestock nutrition; traditional medicine, water treatment, immune booster, restoration of heart disorder and many other health challenges.

Collectively, the industrial prospects of Moringa tree holds significant promises for social and economic development especially food security, poverty reduction, revenue base expansion, rural development and employment generation which are key factors human development.

However, it is disturbing to realise that despite these potentials from the Moringa tree, little or less is known on the field production activities, the proper processing procedure and marketing of the economic tree in Nigeria. 

It is in light of the above that WOFAN and The National Medicinal plants of Nigeria (NMPDC) collaborated with the ministry of Women Affairs- Katsina state to carry out Training of 50 women each from the 3 senatorial districts of Katsina, Daura and Funtua zones, to make a total of 150 women from Katsina state as  part of Katsina state’s women empowerment programs aimed at turning more women into entrepreneurs and contributors to the state’s economic growth.

Cross section of Women groups from Funtua senatorial districts during the practical session on Moringa and complimentary baby food production in Funtua.

The 150 women were drawn from all the 34 local government areas of the State where they received new entrepreneurial skills on how to process Moringa (Zogale) into various products for preservation and marketing includes Moringa Tea bags making, Moringa oil from the seeds  and also other complimentary food from cereals and soya bean   to improve family nutrition particularly to fight malnourishment.

Moringa oil extraction in progress in Daura Senatorial district.

The training, which was facilitated by WOFAN and the Nigerian Medicinal Products Development Company (NMPDC) of Abuja, was supported by the Katsina State Ministry of Women Affairs and Service to Humanity Foundation (SHF).

The specific objectives of the training are to:

Create awareness through the establishment of Moringa network in all the SENATORAL DISTRICTS OF KATSINA STATE.

Alleviate poverty in the grassroots through usage of local resource management and marketing.

Contribute to nutrition and health improvement of vulnerable groups.

Attract Government and private sector support for Moringa industrial.

Declaring the 7 day training program programme opened, the Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajia Salamatu Garba highlighted the importance of Moringa worldwide saying that , “Research has shown that Zogale has medicinal properties which can cure more than 300 hundred different ailments. This is why it is referred to by some people as the miracle tree. Every part of Zogale tree, from its roots to its flowers, is useful. It therefore has great potentials for healthy living as well as for commercial purposes. “This is why the state government and Service to Humanity decided to support Katsina Women on the train the trainers workshop to tap into the potentials of Zogale by empowering them to understand the tree and learn how to process it for health and commercial benefits.

In his remarks the representative of Nigerian Medicinal plants Development Company Mallam Abdullahi Ubale who represented the Executive Director of the company- Hajia Zainab Sheriff Ujudu, highlighted the benefits  of  one teaspoon of dried Moringa  to be equivalent to the values found in fruits  in the  diagram below.

 Diagram showing medicinal and nutritional values of Moringa according to research.

In a special graduation ceremony held inside the main auditorium of the Katsina Women Teachers College, Katsina First Lady and wife of the Governor of the state, Hajia Fatima Ibrahim Shema urged the women to ensure their newly acquired skills benefit their respective communities and the state in general.

The first lady, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor of the  state, Hajia Lubabatu Abdullahi Faskari told the graduating women replicate the training widely to process Zogale for better nutrition and improved standard of living.

“Use your skills by teaching other women and by starting Zogale processing businesses so that you and your communities can benefit positively from this training”, she said.

 Honourable commissioner  of women affairs- Katsina state and Executive Director- WOFAN during the  demonstration sessions.

Hands on deck by participants.

 Also speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajia (Dr) Asma’u Abdullahi disclosed that the state government, and Service to Humanity Foundation, are determined to empower every woman in the state.

She further explained that the Moringa( Zogale) and Food processing training was held over a period of 7 days, to give the best practical lessons and hands on processing to every participant  while forming networks to grow the business across their respectively LGAs and ultimately across the state.

Certificates of Attendance with start up cash grant  were given to all  participants by the state government and WOFAN.

Making Moringa Teabags by women from Katsina Senatorial District.

Complimentary baby food being processed and packaged by Women from Daura senatorial district during the 7 day training in Katsina state.