By Hotpen
For over three decades, Hajiya Dr. Salamatu Garba has dedicated her life to empowering rural women, strengthening food security, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable communities across Northern Nigeria.
A distinguished academic, development expert, and social justice advocate, Dr. Salamatu Garba is the visionary founder of the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), a non-governmental organization established in 1993.
What began as a modest initiative has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading community development organizations, positively impacting thousands of women, youth, and farming households through agriculture, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and climate-smart development.
Before devoting herself to full-time humanitarian and development work, Dr. Salamatu built an impressive academic career. She obtained her Master’s degree from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, before earning a PhD in Gender and Development from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
She spent approximately fifteen years as a university lecturer, teaching Plant Pathology and Gender Studies at both Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University Kano (BUK), where she inspired students through teaching, research, and mentorship.
Her remarkable contributions have earned recognition both nationally and internationally.
In January 2026, Bayero University Kano appointed Dr. Salamatu Garba as the Chairperson of the Sectoral/Industry Advisory Board of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) for a three-year term. The appointment reflects the University’s confidence in her wealth of experience in sustainable agriculture, rural development, and policy advocacy.
Beyond Nigeria, she serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Farm Radio International, Canada, where she contributes to advancing agricultural communication and knowledge sharing among smallholder farmers across Africa.
Between 2017 and 2021, she also served as a National Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), coordinating food security interventions across seven Nigerian states and supporting efforts to improve livelihoods and resilience in vulnerable communities.
Under her visionary leadership, WOFAN has evolved into a powerful development platform connecting grassroots farmers with funding opportunities, modern agricultural technologies, financial services, capacity building, and market access. The organization continues to champion women and youth as key drivers of agricultural transformation and sustainable economic growth.
Her story serves as an inspiration to academics, students, policymakers, and development practitioners, proving that knowledge, when combined with compassion and vision, can transform entire communities.
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