By Olukayode Babalola, Lafia
The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has so far offered its Gender Action and Learning System (GALS) training methodology to about 5,500 rural dwellers in Nasarawa state.
Dr Ken Ukaoha, NANTS National President made this known after a Marketing Household Methodology and GALS project meeting organised by the association in Lafia on Friday.
Ukaoha said that GALS training methodology was an instrument for empowerment and gender based tool toward liberation from cultural norms.
According to him, the system will also liberate other social, economic and political issues that have deprived rural communities, especially women from empowerment.
He said that since the commencement of GALS project in 2010, it has been a huge success in three communities in Nasarawa state.
“The communities are Aridi, Rafin Kudi and Ruwayo in Lafia local government area thereby, empowering the rural dwellers on how to develop themselves, manage resources and be self-sufficient,’’ he said.
The NANTS boss said that the communities were chosen because of the high rate of poverty in spite abundant fertile lands for agriculture and high number of farmers.
“In 2010, NANTS brought GALS into Nigeria and started implementation. When we came to the communities who benefitted, there is no sign of development.
“Then we introduced GALS which is an instrument for empowerment in rural communities and the story has changed.
“We have had about 5,500 beneficiaries from the three communities and I can tell you that some of the poor beneficiaries, especially women have broken the barriers of social and cultural norms through GALS application.
“Some of the women today are owners of houses. So GALS is a gender tool which moves people away from current status whether it is cultural, social, political or economic and empower them out of poverty, degradation and inequality and into prosperity,” he said.
Ukaoha said that in spite NANTS feat of training 5,500 rural dwellers, it has decided to expand into other communities in other states with a set target of 10,000 beneficiaries in three years.
He noted that the meeting was aimed at showcasing some of the achievements of GALS in Nasarawa state which include; the number of people impacted upon and structures put in place.
“Secondly, we look at what we’ve not been able to achieve in the lives of individuals who are recipients of GALS in terms of their social life, educational life, economic life through empowerment, political awareness and rural development,” he said
Mrs Chioma Onwu, NANTS Programme and Project Officer for GALS said the introduction of GALS has brought radical changes in the lives of beneficiaries.
Onwu said that the project was more of human empowerment than offering the beneficiaries material things.
Meanwhile, Mr Yaro Alaku, a rice farmer from Ruwayo community said that since the commencement of GALS training, he has been able to learn many things including taking proper stock of his farm crops.
Alaku said that GALS has made it possible to send his children to school sayiing, “I have also learnt how to partner and carry my wife along in every issue.
“Before, we used to quarrel but now it’s no longer happening. GALS opened our eyes to so many things,” he added. (NAN)
