The federal government has partnered with the city of Atlanta in the United States to export sunflower and jatropha curcas.

In a statement on Sunday, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs and social development, said the deal will empower women, alleviate poverty, and create jobs.

“As part of this partnership, the ministry has secured land space in various dams across the country to facilitate the cultivation of these valuable plants,” she said.

“The realized profits from the project will be shared among participating women entrepreneurs. This initiative is expected to have a transformative impact on the lives of Nigerian women and the nation’s economy.”

The minister urged Nigerians to utilise the opportunity, adding that sunflower and jatropha curcas are highly sought after in the European and American markets.

“While it takes over seven months to cultivate sunflowers in Europe, they mature in just ten to thirteen weeks in our country,” she said.

”Similarly, the jatropha curcas plant, traditionally associated with arid regions, can be harvested in eight months in Nigeria, compared to eighteen months in Europe and America.”