ENS-EWAS Programme - Phase 1

Energizing Women & Youths in Agri-Food System (EWAS)

From zero to over 570 direct and indirect jobs already created across the agritech supply chain for women, young people and persons with disabilities. The programme deploys Productive Use of Energy solutions and resilient technologies to enhance agricultural productivity.

Participants from our agrarian communities are trained, organized into cooperatives, and empowered to own and operate climate-smart greenhouses across Enugu State.

0 Direct & Indirect Jobs
0 Active Greenhouse Farmers
0 Farmer Cooperatives
0 ENS-EWAS Anchor Clusters Established
0 Government–Business–Blended Finance Innovation Model Established
Discover the Journey ↓
The Journey

From Zero to 225

The story of how a vision became a movement — empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities through cooperative greenhouse ownership.

A Bold Idea Takes Root

The EWAS (Energizing Women and Youths in Agri-Food Systems) programme was conceived to address the systemic barriers that excluded women, youth, and persons with disabilities from owning productive agricultural assets. The vision: create 10,000 jobs through 2,000 cooperative-owned greenhouses across Africa.

Government & Private Sector Unite

The Enugu State Government, under the administration of His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, partnered with Manamuz and other strategic partners to pilot the programme. A contract for 150 greenhouses was secured — funded through an innovative lease-to-own model where farmers make no upfront investment.

Building Capacity, Building Confidence

Two intensive training cohorts were completed — Cohort 1 (Pioneer Batch) and Cohort 2 (Train-the-Trainer). Women, youth, and persons with disabilities received hands-on training in climate-smart agronomy, greenhouse operations, cooperative governance, and agribusiness management.

Women and youth trainees learning greenhouse operations during EWAS bootcamp

225 Members, 15 Cooperatives

Trained participants organized themselves into 15 cooperative groups of approximately 15 members each, all under the umbrella of the Enugu State Energizing Women and Youths in Agri-Food Systems Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society. Each cooperative is assigned to own and operate one greenhouse.

EWAS cooperative members gathered at the solar-powered greenhouse facility

Ugwuomu Nike: 15 Greenhouses Deployed

The first cluster of 15 climate-smart greenhouses was deployed at Ugwuomu Nike, complete with solar-powered irrigation, a Coldbox Store for cold-chain infrastructure, and provision for EV-enabled farm logistics. The 15 cooperatives are now active and operational.

Umuabi Cluster Foundational Cooperative Established

One existing greenhouse and a land space capable of supporting up to 10 additional greenhouses have been fully integrated into the Enugu Anchor Greenhouse Cluster land bank, paving the way for immediate expansion through the EWAS programme.

Aguobu Iwollo Foundational Cooperative

Currently under development as an integral part of the EWAS programme, expanding the reach and impact of the cooperative model.

Owo: 135 More Greenhouses Coming

Land clearing has commenced on 3 hectares donated by the Enugu State Government at Owo for the remaining 135 greenhouses. This expansion will create opportunities for hundreds more women, youth, and persons with disabilities to join cooperatives and own greenhouses. The journey to 2,000 greenhouses and 10,000 jobs continues.

Impact

The Numbers Tell the Story

Every number represents a real person — a woman, a young person, a person with disability — whose life is being transformed through cooperative ownership.

0 Active Members
0 Cooperatives
0 Greenhouses Active
0 Training Cohorts
Our Cooperatives

Meet the 15 Cooperative Groups

Each cooperative owns and operates one greenhouse — 15 members per group, working together to build sustainable livelihoods and long-term asset ownership.

Enugu State Energizing Women and Youths in Agri-Food Systems Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society

The umbrella cooperative organization for all 15 groups — collectively representing 225 members across Enugu State.

1

Smart Farmers EWAS

15 members · Enugu North, Enugu East, Aninri
2

Refreshing Hope Initiative EWAS

15 members · Udenu
3

Obioma Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Nkanu East
4

Umuabiamaka Glorious Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Udi
5

Akuluno Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Udi, Nkanu West, Nkanu East
6

Chimereugo Farmers Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Enugu East
7

Seed of Unity Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Nkanu East, Igboetiti, Enugu South
8

Green Harvest Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Enugu North, Oji River
9

Brace Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Enugu East, North, Ezeagu, Awgu
10

Donum De Caelo Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Enugu North, Nkanu, Nsukka, Aninri
11

Nourish Nigeria Agro Multipurpose Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Igboeze North, Udenu, Enugu N/E/S, Nkanu East
12

Inclusive Growth Multipurpose Cooperative Society (IGROMCOS) EWAS

15 members · Udi, Enugu East/South, Nkanu E/W, Uzo-Uwani, Ezeagu, Udenu
13

Greenfield Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Enugu East, North, Udi, Nkanu East
14

Valley of Fortune Cooperative EWAS

15 members · Udenu, Nkanu East, Enugu North, Awgu

Cooperative 15

Our People

Faces of the Movement

These are real women, real youth, and real persons with disabilities — building real futures through cooperative ownership.

EWAS cooperative members in their colorful uniforms gathered at the greenhouse cluster
Cooperative members at the Ugwuomu Nike cluster
Women cooperative members learning greenhouse transplanting techniques
Hands-on greenhouse training
Young women and youth cooperative members gathered at the solar-powered facility
Youth members at the solar facility
Cooperative members, Manamuz group, and dignitaries during the EAGC project visit
Bootcamp graduation ceremony
Governor Peter Mbah distributing farming equipment to cooperative members
Governor Mbah empowering cooperatives
The Cluster

Ugwuomu Nike Extension Cluster

A 15-unit cooperative greenhouse cluster integrating solar-powered irrigation, Coldbox Store infrastructure, and provision for EV-enabled farm logistics.

Ugwuomu Nike Extension Cluster: The operational 15-unit greenhouse cluster where our cooperatives are building their futures — complete with solar microgrid, Coldbox Store, and space for EV charging integration. Read more →
The Model

How the Lease-to-Own Model Works

Through catalytic funding from the Enugu State Government, private-sector partners and development institutions, trained cooperative farmers gain access to climate-smart greenhouses without making an upfront capital investment. Farmers operate the greenhouses, earn income from each production cycle and gradually pay for the assets from an agreed portion of their earnings.

1

Greenhouse Infrastructure Is Financed

The Enugu State Government, in partnership with private-sector and development partners, provides catalytic financing for greenhouse infrastructure and supporting productive-use facilities.

2

Greenhouses Are Manufactured and Deployed

Climate-smart greenhouses are manufactured locally, installed within designated farm estates and allocated to trained cooperative farmers under the lease-to-own programme.

3

Trained Cooperatives Begin Production

Selected farmers are trained, organised into cooperatives and supported with production inputs, technical assistance and access to shared infrastructure to grow high-value crops throughout the year.

4

Harvests Generate Income

Produce is aggregated and supplied to structured off-take markets, helping farmers secure reliable market access, reduce post-harvest losses and generate income from each production cycle.

5

Farmers Earn While Building Ownership

Farmers retain the larger share of the income generated from their harvests, while an agreed smaller portion is applied towards repayment of the greenhouse asset. With each payment, they build equity in the greenhouse.

Larger share to farmers · Smaller share to asset repayment
6

Full Ownership and Capital Recycling

Once the agreed asset cost is fully repaid, ownership is transferred to the farmer or cooperative. The recovered funds are reinvested to finance greenhouse assets for newly onboarded farmers.

The cycle continues

Recovered capital returns to the financing pool, extending the same opportunity to the next group of cooperative farmers.

Farmers earn. Farmers build ownership.
Recovered capital finances the next generation of greenhouse farmers.

EWAS Lease-to-Own Model Diagram
The Future

The Road to 10,000 Jobs

What we've achieved with 15 greenhouses is just the beginning. The path forward is already being paved — literally.

135 More Greenhouses at Owo

Land clearing has commenced on 3 hectares donated by the Enugu State Government at Owo, Nkanu East LGA. The remaining 135 greenhouses from the 150-greenhouse contract will be deployed here — creating space for hundreds more cooperative members.

0

Climate-Smart Greenhouses

The Enugu Anchor Greenhouse Cluster pilot serves as proof of concept for a broader continental vision. Through the EWAS framework, the model is designed for replication across Africa, beginning in Enugu State, Nigeria. The vision is to deploy over 2,000 climate-smart greenhouses and create 10,000 sustainable jobs for women, young people and persons with disabilities in underserved agrarian communities, particularly those living below the poverty line.

0

Quarterly Training Cycles

Every quarter, new bootcamp cohorts are trained — bringing more women, youth, and persons with disabilities into the cooperative framework. Each new member is a step closer to the 10,000 jobs target.

4×/yr

10,000 Jobs

The ultimate goal — 10,000 sustainable agricultural jobs for the people who need them most. Not charity, but ownership. Not aid, but enterprise. Not temporary, but generational. Targeting people living below the poverty headcuts

0

Join the Movement

Whether you're a woman, a young person, or a person with disability — there is a place for you in the next cooperative. Apply for the next training bootcamp and start your journey to greenhouse ownership.

Apply for the Bootcamp →