More than N400 million in low-interest loans has been disbursed to women farmers by the Ogbonge Women Agricultural Multi-purpose Society since its establishment in 2017. Starting with just 25 members, the society has grown into a formidable network of over 400 women dedicated to strengthening local food production and improving livelihoods across Lagos State.
According to the society’s president, Mrs Chinasa Asonye, the initiative was born out of the need to address long-standing marginalisation of women in the agricultural sector. “Women contribute over 70 percent of the labour in food cultivation, yet they remain excluded from critical financial support,” she said.
To close that gap, the cooperative adopted a village savings model, encouraging members to pool resources and access single-digit interest loans. The impact, Asonye noted, has been significant—women have expanded their agribusinesses, increased profits, and gained recognition in the agriculture space.
“Banks now come to us because they see our structure and results,” she added, highlighting the growing influence of the group. The society ensures transparency by admitting only members vetted through trusted referrals, keeping the integrity of the financial process intact.
Asonye said the group continues to champion women’s financial inclusion while helping to secure food systems through grassroots empowerment.