BY AJUWA VICTOR 

The United Nations Women Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Coordination Mechanism Platform in Delta State, has called for more economic empowerment of women to enhance gender equality and economic prosperity of the country.

They made the call in Asaba, at a Lecture Series and Exhibition of Products by graduate trainees of a project tagged: “Working Fingers Initiative.” 

According to reports, that experts were invited to enlighten the women on Managing Mental Health, Business Skills and Family Planning.

The Executive Director, Working Fingers Initiative Dr. Eris Jewo, noted that seven women in seven out of the 2t local government areas in the state were engaged in the program, with a total of two thousand participants.

Dr. Jewo stated “We have reached almost two thousand women through empowerment of women in skills and development.”

Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs Dr. Pat Ajudua, represented by Mrs Faith Okpohworho, said that the domestication and full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the execution of women empowerment programs by the government, were some of the policies aimed at women development in the state.

Hon. Pat Ajudua observed that “Increasing access to quality health care; promoting education of the girl child and creating a safe space.” 

A medical expert, Dr. Minnie Oseji, who gave a health talk on Mental and Social Management Health of Women, urged the group to take care of their physical and mental health, despite their busy schedules catering for their families, building a career, and to undergo regular medical checks.

Dr. Oseji stressed “It is important that you have a career that keeps you going. To space the children, of course, you have to use family planning.”

Other state coordinators of NGOs under the United Nations Women Coordination Mechanism, including Aminat Olarewaju of the Muslim Women Association and Erikpara Oritsematosa of Professional Women Accountants of Nigeria, highlighted the importance of economic empowerment of women, as those empowered would developed capacity to surmount other challenges.

The highlight of the occasion was the display of products such as home made soaps, traditional attires, caps, bags and shoesby graduate trainees under the Working Finger Initiative,