By Our Correspondent
In a bid to alleviate poverty amongst women found in the Niger Delta Region and also to commemorate International Women Day Celebration, Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF) has empowered 25 indigent women.
Addressing the over 150 hard working women drawn from Niger Delta, President/CEO of Morgan Smart Development Foundation, Dr Omawumi Evelyn Urhobo lauded the hard working women of the Niger Delta whom in spite of the harsh realities of their existence are still harking out a living to put food on the table of their children and family. “This is in spite of them coming from the region that produces over 80percent of the oil wealth of the country”.
According to her, “the conspiracy of silence against the poor women of the region must be urgently addressed and the women must have some say. I also call on the men of the region who are party to this conspiracy to have a change of mind. The violence and refusal to contribute to the wellbeing of their women who are their mothers, wives and sisters must stop. They should elevate their women and celebrate them because they are the jewels putting together the home and caring for the children. The energy, talent and strength of women and girls represent human kind most valuable untapped natural resource.
“Government at all levels from the federal to the local and the multinational oil companies must of a necessity help to bring some change to the economic, social and political status of our women in the country. They must commit to developing the untapped resources that are the women, to enable them benefit from the wealth of their land.
Urhobo also used the opportunity to remind women that the challenges of gender mainstreaming is still enormous and that there is the need to be vigilant in protecting the main strides which women have gained, why advocating for greater space for women to excel in both the political, social and economic arena. This according to her can be done by calling for gender balanced leadership, helping women and girls to achieve their ambition, respect and value differences, and root at work place bias.
She concluded by thanking all those who contributed financially to the empowerment. They include Exxon Mobil, Springs Board Brokers, Lead Capital Plc, Coastline Microfinance Bank, Shebet Quest apartment and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who donated some sewing machines.
On her part chairman of the occasion Barr. Mrs. Violet Ogbe, Retired Magistrate, Delta State urged women to invest in education at any cost. She said “the progress towards parity is achievable if more women are educated. The empowerment of more women must continue to be a central feature for all if we must address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.”
Meanwhile, the Honorable Commissioner Ministry Women Affairs, Community and Social Development Asaba Delta State, Rev. Mrs. Omatshola Williams who was represented by Lady Kate Majomi stated that the struggle for equality belongs to no single person or organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. She however charged all present to do their bit to ensure that the future for women and girls is equal, bright, safe and rewarding.
The high point of the event was the economic empowerment of 25 indigent women in the region with sewing, grinding machines baking ovens, mobile food carts, beads/wire works materials and fishing nets to a 69 year old deaf and dump fisher woman from Egbokoda in Warri South Local Government Area who from the proceeds of her fishing takes care of her grandchildren and other relatives living with her.
