Taraba State in North East region is facing rising farmer–herdsmen tensions.
Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation has taken a bold step toward advancing women’s empowerment and sustainable rural development by laying the foundation for a new Women’s Centre in Bodel, a community near the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba State.
The initiative, unveiled during a foundation-laying ceremony, marks a major stride in ANI’s commitment to building inclusive, resilient communities around conservation areas.
The centre is designed to serve the southern sector of the national park and complements a similar facility recently established in Toungo, Adamawa State (northern sector of the park).
Speaking at the event, the ANI’s Country Manager, Nacha Geoffrey, stated:
> “The centre is more than a building but a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and progress for women in Gashaka Gumti National Park.”
He further emphasized the broader vision of the initiative:
> “The Women’s Centre is a testament to how deliberate investments in women can lead to stronger families, thriving communities, and a more prosperous Nigeria.”
At the core of the centre’s operations will be a semi-mechanised shea butter processing facility, the first of its kind in Taraba State.
> “The heart of the Women’s Centre will be a semi-mechanised shea butter processing facility. The Centre will include a warehouse to receive raw shea nuts, machinery to process shea nuts into shea butter and a storage area to sell the finished products,” Geoffrey explained.
He noted that the centre will play a crucial role in feeding into the Federal Government’s agenda to boost domestic shea butter production and connect local producers to value chains across Nigeria and beyond.
In addition to shea butter processing, the centre will house facilities for poultry farming, tree seedling production, and other small-scale agri-businesses, providing women with multiple avenues to earn income and build sustainable livelihoods.
To ensure environmental sustainability, Geoffrey also highlighted the use of eco-friendly construction materials:
> “ANI Foundation has already produced about 5,000 hydro-form blocks for the project. The blocks and other eco-friendly materials will not only provide a solid structural foundation but also reflect the foundation’s commitment to environmentally responsible development practices.”
Echoing the organisation’s broader vision, ANI Foundation’s Executive Director, Tunde Morakinyo, noted:
> “ANI has a vision to make Gashaka Gumti National Park an economic asset for Nigeria, generating employment for the local communities and revenue for the country. Empowering women is central to achieving this.”
The Bodel Women’s Centre is expected to unlock new economic opportunities, reduce poverty, and build a stronger link between conservation and community development—placing women at the heart of change in Taraba and beyond.
