(Ecofin Agency) - While visiting Korhogho in the Northern part of Côte d’Ivoire, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (picture), executive director of UN Women, revealed that only 3% of Ivorian rural women hold agricultural land titles. An anomaly she urged the government, customary and religious leaders to fix for equity sake, and to allow these women to “be more productive and competitive”.

“Empowerment and education are the only remedies to poverty,” she said.

The executive director also denounced violence against women and the dropping out of girls from school In this regard, she lauded the government’s action to tackle the issue and promised the UN’s financial support as well that of Japan and the European Union to back its efforts.