By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), has concluded its three- months project in Benue state, training 42 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and other vulnerable women on various skills, including hair dressing, nail fixing, make- up and tailoring.
The project is aimed at improving the living condition of beneficiaries through economic empowerment.
Participants at the empowerment programme, which was sponsored by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) in Nigeria were exposed to issues of human rights, violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) law and leadership skills to prepare them ahead of practical realities as they would face as business owners in their future endeavors.
Addressing participants at a review/reflection workshop held at Hallydays Hotel in Makurdi, where trainees mostly AGYW and other vulnerable women were presented with sewing machines, ovens, gas cylinders, make-up and nail fixing kits among other items, Director Programmes of CWIDI, Mrs. Bridget Okeke, who tagged the items as seed-grant, explained that beneficiaries have been empowered to have sources of income to improve livelihood.
“Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI as the name implies, the NGO is committed to the growth of women, so what has happened here is part of its mandate which is to ensure the growth of women” Okeke stated, pointing out that the items are called seed-grant because they should serve as seeds in the lives of beneficiaries with the belief that if properly nurtured, it would make their businesses to grow, and by extension change their living conditions.
She pointed out that CWIDI has given trainees what they require to start- up businesses, expressing optimism that if beneficiaries show commitment to what they have learnt, with the support from the NGO by putting into good use the knowledge acquired, the organization expects that in the next two years the empowerment would produce good number of entrepreneurs and business women who will become employers of labour.
In seperate remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, represented by Mrs. Grace Akende and the Director General, Benue Planning Commission, represented by Mr. Terfa Makir; all commended the organizers for putting together the programme, describing the initiative as laudable and promised, on behalf of government, to always support any organization with genuine commitment to collaborate the state for development.
On her part state, Coordinator, Sexual Assault Referral Center (SACR), Mrs. Linda Dirisu, expressed optimism that lessons learnt on advocacy, human rights and VAPP laws would help beneficiaries in business and other aspects of their lives.
She commended CWIDI and the French Embassy Fund, FEF in Nigeria for funding the project, advising those that got the opportunity to use it wisely so that in the next two years or more, Benue State should be able to produce millionaires in different ventures they would be operating as entrepreneurs.
Becky Gbihi, Senior Programme Officer of CWIDI, while interacting with beneficiaries during the review and reflection exercise, emphasized the need for them to remember at all times what they learnt during the programme, expressing optimism that the knowledge gained would help them both in business to avoid loses and their daily lives.
Some beneficiaries including Agatha Iorzua, Vanessa Paul and Chidozie Peter, in separate interviews expressed appreciation to the organizers for putting together a programme that will turn around lives of the vulnerable population.
They however lamented that in the past, some organizations came up with similar ideas, but could not pursue them to conclusion thereby, leaving participants stranded, commending CWIDI for not just putting together the programme but living truly to their words by training young girls and empowering them with equipment, urging God to bless the NGO in a manner that will help continue the good works.