Delta State Government yesterday graduated 325 beneficiaries of the Women Empowerment Skills Acquisition Programme (WESAP) at a function attended by many dignitaries.
The state governor, who is also the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was represented by the first lady, Dame Edith Okowa who encouraged the beneficiaries to stay focused on their goal of being self-reliant by utilizing their starter packs effectively and efficiently.
Reacting to the successful completion of the programme, Jessica Phillip, commended the Delta State Government for the successful completion of the empowerment programme.
She said: “Congratulations to all 325 beneficiaries of the women empowerment skills acquisition programme. You have been empowered to change your lives. Go and make yourselves proud by changing other lives with all that you have learned. God bless DSG and its leadership.”
“Thank you, our governor, for investing more in human capital development. I know by the special grace of God as vice president, you will do more for Nigerians,” Kennedy Atevure, said.
“Congratulations to all the successful beneficiaries. I must commend the Gov. Okowa-led administration for always investing and empowering women across the state. One woman empowered, you have empowered a whole family,” Imoto Prosper Eseoghene, said.
WESAP was set up to bridge the widening inequality gap between Nigeria and other African countries. The empowerment programme is meant to reduce the age-long and routine abuse, marginalization and discrimination against women in traditional African societies including Nigeria.
It was modelled after other Delta State’s empowerment and skills acquisition programmes such as STEP, YAGEP, GEST and RYSA.
Commenting on the relevance and objectives of the programme, Senator Okowa listed what WESAP was meant to achieve when he launched it few years back.
He said: “Since we came on board in May, 2015, we have undertaken several measures, especially through the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Microfinance Scheme, to lift our women out of poverty and enhance their participation in the economy.
“We are taking it a step further today by unveiling the Women Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programme (WESAP), patterned after our other entrepreneurship development programmes, namely, STEP, YAGEP, GEST, and RYSA.
“As some of us here may be aware, women empowerment has for a long time been more than a national concern; it is a recurring global issue and one that needs to be tackled with concerted action to bridge the widening inequality gap in Nigeria and the African continent.
“In most traditional African societies, experience shows that in spite of comprising the majority of the population, women are routinely abused, marginalized, and discriminated against, particularly in the economic sector.
“Financial freedom for them means more confident women, less burden for the men, better living standards for the family, improved communities, and a sense of fulfillment.”
