The Bayero University Kano Staff Wives Association (BUKSWA) has begun a strategic partnership with the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its members through agriculture, entrepreneurship and skills development.
The proposed collaboration was discussed during a strategic meeting held at the WOFAN Secretariat in Kano, where officials of both organisations explored areas of cooperation under the second component of the Skills Improvement to Boost Livelihood and Nurture Growth (SIBLING) Project being implemented in partnership with Bayero University, Kano.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the association, the Secretary, Hajiya Halima Sadiya Mahmoud, said BUKSWA was revived in 2024 after years of inactivity through the support of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, and the commitment of his wife, Hajiya Binta Saji, who played a key role in repositioning the association.
She explained that the revived leadership identified unemployment, widowhood and financial hardship among the wives of serving and retired university staff as major challenges requiring sustainable interventions.
These findings, she said, informed the association’s decision to seek strategic partnerships that would create lasting livelihood opportunities through agriculture and agribusiness.
According to her, BUKSWA is prioritising organisational development and economic empowerment by promoting agricultural produce processing, entrepreneurship and other value chain activities.
She commended WOFAN for inviting the association to prepare a comprehensive concept note that will guide the implementation of the partnership.
The Assistant Chairperson of the association, Hajiya Binta Saji, said BUKSWA comprises employed women, unemployed wives of university staff, widows and other vulnerable members.
She noted that the planned intervention would provide tailored support to address the diverse needs of the association’s membership.
Members also reviewed the association’s past operations, identifying weak accountability, poor communication, ineffective leadership coordination and limited support for members’ businesses as challenges the new leadership is determined to address through institutional reforms.
Responding, WOFAN Founder and Global Advocate,Ambassador Dr. Salamatu Garba, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to partnerships that deliver measurable and sustainable impact.
She said the meeting provided an opportunity to better understand the association’s vision, membership structure and development priorities before the commencement of the intervention.
Dr. Garba advised the association to strengthen its organisational structure across Bayero University campuses, maintain an updated membership database and classify members according to their preferred agricultural value chains, including poultry, fisheries and crop processing.
She also stressed the need for sustained sensitisation to encourage broad participation in the programme.
The meeting resolved that BUKSWA should complete its restructuring process, prepare a detailed concept note and identify viable agricultural value chains ahead of the formal rollout of the partnership.
WOFAN expressed optimism that implementation of the intervention could commence before the end of August 2026.
Earlier, WOFAN Communication Facilitator, Hajiya Nafisa Ahmad Murtala, explained that the initiative involving BUKSWA is a distinct component of the SIBLING Project under the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University, launched in July 2026.
She noted that while the existing project focuses on research and student development, the BUKSWA component is specifically designed to strengthen group cohesion and improve the livelihoods of staff wives through targeted socio-economic empowerment initiatives.