Southern Women Empowerment Forum Inaugurated in Delta State
By Odeya Ogbetuo
The Delta State chapter of Southern Women Empowerment Forum has been inaugurated in Effurun with Chief Dr. Linda Eya Ikpuri as the State Coordinator to provide economic empowerment for women and to promote education, employment and create awareness about women rights.
In her speech during the inauguration, the national president of Southern Women Empowerment Forum, Hon. Dr. Helen Taiwo Adebakin said that gender bias has held back generations of women and girls from reaching their full potentials, adding that this has denied them opportunities and restricted their freedom, noting that the Forum has been addressing these challenges gradually.
Dr. Adebakin further said that the aims and objectives of the Forum were designed to address the various challenges faced by women in the Southern region through empowerment, healthcare, leadership roles and to encourage as well facilitates active participation of women in decision making process at all levels.
Hon. Adebakin listed some of the means to empower women and alleviate poverty through education and skill acquisition, provide scholarships and educational opportunities, conduct workshops and training programmes, to enhance women’s skill and knowledge, promote entrepreneurship and provide resources for women to start and grow their business, offers counselling, support group, financial services healthcare, leadership training to attain their full potential among others.
She disclosed that the Forum is being inaugurated in the 17 States of Southern Nigeria to promote women welfare through empowerment.
The Delta State Coordinator of the Forum, Chief Dr. Linda Eya Ikpuri said that the Forum aimed at empowering 500 Women across different age categories, spanning all 25 local government areas of Delta State, adding that this initiative emphasizes comprehensive reach and significant impact, and ensures no community would be left out.
She disclosed that the Forum would assist women with cash support for business ventures, tools for work, vocational training and skill acquisition as well as mentoring and leadership training.
She affirmed that she would be fully committed to the advancement of gender equality and promotes socio-economic of well-being of women through empowerment and orientation.
Dr. Ikpuri who hailed from Edjeba-Warri commended the gesture of HRM Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, Ovie of Agbarha, Warri Kingdom for sponsoring twenty (20) women in the empowerment programme and for sending high-powered chiefs to the occasion.
The event also featured several lectures and insights from State officials and managers of industry on how women should engage in small-scale business and acquired diverse skills to improve their income.
The State Chapter of the Forum empowered 10 while HRM Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, the Ataneru Igbi II, Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom sponsored 20 women with cash empowerment.
A panel of discussants handled the topic: ‘The Bane of Gender Bias and the Need to Restore Balance in the Society’ followed by inspirational talks by great personalities as well as investiture of patrons and matrons for the Forum in the State.
The Delta State Chapter of the Forum has Barr. DCN. Kingsley Otuaro, former Deputy Governor of Delta State as the Grand Patron and the wife of the Delta State Governor, DCN Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori as Grand Matron.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on political matters, Hon. Francis Obule JP commended the national president of the Forum, Dr. Adebakin and the Delta State Chapter for organizing the programme to assist women in the State.
He urged them to continue with the programme to improve on the quality of life of women in the State in support of Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
