For a young woman building a livelihood through farming, access to land is only the beginning. She must also be able to safely reach and work on that land, with confidence that her investment of time and effort can yield lasting benefits.
This makes peace and security essential to the success of the Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) Program in Abia State.
Kidnapping and other criminal activities along the Isuikwuato–Umuneochi axis have made some farms increasingly difficult to access. To address this challenge, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), through the Mastercard Foundation-funded WISE Program, convened a multi-stakeholder peace and security meeting in Umuahia on August 18, 2026.
Held in collaboration with the Office of the Security Adviser to the Governor of Abia State, the meeting brought together government representatives, security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, and Von Foods and Farms Ltd. to explore how stakeholders could improve safety around agricultural communities and protect the opportunities being created through WISE.
Protecting Opportunities for Young Women
The WISE Program supports young women aged 18 to 35 to participate in commercial agriculture and build sustainable livelihoods within the cassava value chain.
In Abia State, PIND’s sub-implementing partner, Von Foods and Farms Ltd., has onboarded 5,000 young outgrower farmers. However, insecurity is threatening the full potential of this investment.
During the meeting, Von Foods reported that approximately 87 hectares of cleared and cultivated farmland in affected communities had become difficult to access safely. The company also highlighted the rising cost of protecting its workers and operations.
The consequences extend beyond operational setbacks. Restricted access to farms can disrupt incomes, limit opportunities for young farmers to gain experience and support their families, and undermine confidence in agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.
The dialogue was therefore an important step towards safeguarding both the participants and the wider objectives of the WISE Program.
Bringing the Right People to the Table
Participants included representatives of the Office of the Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abia State Homeland Security, the Ministry of Agriculture, traditional institutions, host communities, the Prevent Council, and Von Foods and Farms.
PIND’s peacebuilding team shared insights from its early-warning system, highlighting security concerns within communities along the Isuikwuato–Umuneochi axis.
The discussions examined not only security responses but also the roles of trust, community participation, and economic opportunity in building resilience. Participants acknowledged that limited livelihood opportunities can make communities more vulnerable to crime and conflict. Creating pathways to dignified work is, therefore, both an economic and a peacebuilding intervention.
Taking the Conversation to the Communities
Recognizing that sustainable solutions require community ownership, PIND and Von Foods followed the Umuahia meeting with a community-level engagement in Uturu on August 21.
The session brought together traditional rulers, presidents-general, women and youth leaders, Prevent Council members, and representatives of communities across the affected areas. It provided an opportunity for residents to express their concerns directly and for Von Foods to explain its role in the WISE Program.
A key issue raised was the need for stronger communication between the company and host communities. Some community representatives said they had not been sufficiently informed or consulted about Von Foods’ activities.
Traditional rulers encouraged their communities to support the initiative while urging the company to maintain regular engagement with traditional institutions and community leaders. They affirmed their openness to agricultural investment but stressed that collaboration, sensitization, and meaningful participation would be essential to the program’s success.
The engagement ended with a shared commitment to work together to create a safer and more supportive environment for agricultural activities.
Building Safer Conditions for Sustainable Livelihoods
The meetings in Umuahia and Uturu produced practical commitments to strengthen coordination between security agencies and communities, improve response mechanisms, sustain engagement with traditional institutions, and reinforce local peacebuilding structures.
Through the Prevent Council and its early-warning and early-response platform, PIND will continue to monitor emerging conflict trends, facilitate dialogue, and promote collaboration among stakeholders.
As follow-up engagements continue across Isuikwuato and Umuneochi, the goal remains clear: to create safer communities where young women and other young people can farm, earn a living, and build sustainable futures without insecurity standing in their way.
