Omamuzo Efidhere
In a bid to alleviate poverty amongst women found in the Niger Delta Region and also to commemorate the 2017 International Women’s Day Celebration with the UN-theme “be bold for change”, Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF) has empowered 50 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.
According to her, “Morgan Smart Development Foundation in celebrating the international Women’s Day by joining others from our vintage point to draw attention of the Nigerian government at all levels and all other stakeholders to the excruciating poverty being experienced by the women in the riverine communities especially those living in the creeks, and the conspiracy of silence about their plight. This is in spite of them coming from the region that produces over 80percent of the oil wealth of the country.
“This neglect can no longer be tolerated. All women in one voice, must say no to this gross neglect. The women of the Niger Delta are being asked to be bold to change their circumstance. That is why 50 women are going to benefit from the Morgan Smart Empowerment gesture and we will also inaugurate the Morgan Smart Women Empowerment Network (MSDF-WEN). This is a platform midwife by MSDF for ordinary women from the Niger Delta to meet and network for effective advocacy for the improvement of their economic and social status in the region. The membership of the network is initially made up of women who have directly or indirectly benefited from the various leadership trainings, skill acquisition and income generation programme of the foundation over the last ten years. This became more imperative as it became evident that the women still needed additional mentoring and support for them to successfully actualise themselves. The membership is however open to all women from the region who want to take their destiny into their arms.”
In an address, Hon. Ochor-Ochor, the Executive Director Social Services Community Development and Public Enlightenment DESOPADEC 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. He however charged all present to do their bit to ensure that the future for women and girls is equal, bright, safe and rewarding.
According to him “the present board of directors at DESOPADEC have demonstrated through its many capacity building, empowerment and wealth creation programmes for women have shown that they are gender sensitive.” He however promised that they will partner with MSDF in their targeted efforts to promote women’s participation in economic life.
On her part chairman of the occasion Nwachuku Akpomejevwe Judith noted that yearly this event takes place not as a ritual but as a medium for us to come together and access ourselves how far we have gone in making this world of ours a better place. I congratulate every woman seated here for I know that after today we will all be bold for change, not just any kind of change but a positive change. I challenge every woman today to be bold for change in their home, work place, community, state, great nation Nigeria and together we will make the world a better place. I call out to our government to begin to take more genuine practical steps to help women of the Niger Delta in particular and of Nigeria generally. Government must sincerely start from whatever resources available right now rather than make big promises it cannot keep.”
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 commended Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife Dame Edith Okowa for the meaningful peace building platform and 05 initiative programme respectively, aimed at political and social harmony. Adding that this has bridged a lot of gaps for women in various capacity in Delta State.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development has carried out various activities in attaining sustainable development goals in the state such as reactivation of women development centres across the state, empowerment of 30widows with starters packs in their different trades, a 5day economic household training for 130 vulnerable handicapped and female headed households, commissioned a ten bedroom self-contained accommodation and solar powered water scheme project at Eku settlement.
Giving a lecture on ‘Bold for Change’ Mrs. Shemite Bello, Executive Secretary Delta State Small and Medium Enterprises Agency Asaba stated that the “Smart Agenda” and other well-articulated strategies such as exposing women to microloans, support and local technology for poverty alleviation of the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has continued to provide succour to more women in various capacity in the state. This she said has greatly improved their economic, political and social status.
The high point of the event was the economic empowerment of 20 women beneficiaries of choker oven drawn from Ondo (6), Edo (4), and Delta (10) to the tune of 300,000 to buy fish, while the other 30 will be trained in income generation for 3days and the sum of 300,000 set aside as starter packs.
