The Rivers State Government has called for collaboration among Civil Society Organisations, corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations and well-meaning individuals, with government, to support women and the vulnerable in the society.
Commissioner for women Affairs in the State, Dr. Roseline Uranta, made the call, weekend, in Port Harcourt at a national conference and women empowerment programme, organised by the Rivers State Chapter of  Southern Women Empowerment Forum (SWEF).
Dr. Uranta stressed the need for improved collaboration with development partners in women empowerment, saying the job should not be left for government alone to handle.
She noted that government has demonstrated strong political will and commitment in formulating policies and guidelines to act as the needed framework to achieve the goal of improving  the lot of women and the vulnerable.
She, therefore, called for “greater support from development partners to foster  stronger synergy with government to alleviate the suffering of women and the vulnerable in the state”.
The Commissioner commended the SWEF on the bold initiative to empower over a 100 indigent women in the state, with agricultural produce and grinding machines, describing the gesture as commendable, while urging them not to relent but to continue in the good work, assuring on government’s continued support for such programmes.
On her part, National President of the SWEF, Dr. Helen Taiwo Adebakin, stated that the NGO is focused on resource development at multiple levels.
Such lebels imclude delivering access to education and skills training, providing access to financial resources, such as micro loans and cooperative funding, as well as improved health and social services, which, she said, would ensure that rural women can contribute meaningfully without the burden of preventable diseases.

The SWEF National President further urged the NGO’s matrons and patrons to use their positions to advocate for policies that promote gender equality and resource allocation for rural development.

“Leverage your networks to create opportunities for rural women in Rivers State and beyond”, Adebakin urged, adding that the empowerment of rural women is not just a humanitarian effort, but “an investment in the future of communities within the nation”.

The State Chairperson of SWEF, Lady Adaure Odu, on her part, disclosed that about 10 indigent women were being empowered with multi purpose grinding machines while over 100 would be given agricultural produce to assist them economically.

Lady Odu pledged the unwaivering support  and commitment of the NGO to the cause of women, expressing optimism that with the right steps taken, a more just and equitable society will be achieved where women will thrive.

One of the beneficiaries of the women empowerment programme, Mrs. Josephine Woke, who hails from Obio Akpor, commended the organisers of the empowerment programme and gave assurance of using proceeds from the  grinding machine that she received free of charge to empower other indigent persons around her immediate environment.

Highpoint of the occasion was an award of appreciation to the Hon. Commissioner for women Affairs for her contributions to the cause of women and the vulnerable in the state, and presentation of grinding machines and agricultural seedlings to some indigent women.
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Two students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), recently, emerged winners of the 2024 National Orientation Agency’s 7 for 7 National Value Charter Campus Debate and Capacity Building Conference.
The students, Christian Needbari Mgboalu and Joshua Onyerere, both from the Department of English and Communication Arts, competed with students from the University of Calabar in the South-South Zone Team B category and scored 499 points, surpassing the University of Calabar’s 447 points.
The debate, which took place at the Postgraduate Hall of IAUE, Rumuolumeni campus, saw the winners earn a cash prize of N5million.
Similarly, students from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, also won N5million after beating their counterparts from the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, by 516 points against their 458 points in the South-East Team A category.
The debate focused on “Striking the Balance Between Government Promises and Citizens’ Responsibilities in Nation Building”.
In his speech, the Director of Ideas, Creativity, and Innovations at IAUE, Professor Samuel Amaele, expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, for his support towards hosting the event.
He also commended the National Orientation Agency, the panel of judges, and students from different universities for participating in the exercise.
The winners will compete for twenty million naira at the grand finale, scheduled for a later date.
IAUE’s team, under the tutelage of Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako, had rehearsed for a week and submitted a recorded video version on the relevance of the 7 for 7 National Value Charter in building a great nation.
That video clip qualified them for this stage, where they emerged victorious.
The victorious team later presented their award to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of IAUE 12th Governing Council, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, and the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Onuchuku, who lauded them for their achievement.
Onuchuku expressed the hope that Professor Ken-Maduako and her team will do their best to ensure that IAUE secures the twenty million naira cash prize at the national level of the competition.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

Southern Women Empowerment Forum (SWEF), a non-governmental organisation, has said the empowerment of rural women remains the only catalyst for sustainable economic development.
National President of the forum, Dr. Helen Taiwo, stated this at an investiture of matrons and patrons by the Rivers State Chapter of the forum in Port Harcourt.
The theme of the event was, “Resource Development: A Basic Need for Rural Women Empowerment”.
Dr. Taiwo said, “when society unlock the potentials of women, it is unlocking the potential of entire community”.
She described the theme of the programme as apt, saying “the theme of today’s event underscores the critical role of resource development in women’s empowerment”, and observed the challenges facing rural women to include limited access to education, economic opportunities and healthcare, as well as societal constraints that hinder their potential.
“Yet they are pillars of their communities, contributing significantly to agriculture, trade and household management”, she said.
The SWEF President also listed areas in which rural women can be empowered to include access to education and skills training, access to economic empowerment initiative, health care and infrastructural technology, and access to clean water.
Taiwo said the group is committed to ensuring that no woman is left behind in the scheme of things.
She also tasked the matrons and patrons to act as advocates that will push for policies that will promote gender equality and resource allocation for rural women.
In her keynote address, the Chairman of Labour Party(LP), Rivers State, Hilda Dokubo, said quality education is a must for the girl child.
“Let us stop economic restrictions/economic empowerment. We need to empower the women”, she stated.
Also speaking, HRM King Ogube said the future of the society is dependent on women empowerment.
Earlier, the Zonal Coordinator/Convener, SWEF, Lady Adaure Odu, said the event was to celebrate women empowerment, recognize the contributions of their patrons and matrons, and reaffirm the Commitment to  promoting gender equality and social justice
Lady Odu said time has come for the society to work together to break down barriers , challenge stereotypes and create opportunities for women to thrive.
She said the investiture ceremony marks significant milestone in the journey towards empowering women and promoting social change and urged the matrons and patrons to continue championing the cause of women’s empowerment.

By: John Bibor