IWD 2024: Delta SSA On Women Mobilization Empowers Eight

As part of activities to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day, the Senior Special Assistant-SSA Women Mobilization to the Delta State Governor, Chief Mrs. Betty Onakpoma JP, on Tuesday empowered seven women in Delta State amid pomp and ceremony.

International Women’s Day is a yearly event that celebrates the impacts and achievements of women, without regard to language, race, or Nationality.

This year’s theme “Investing in Women: Accelerate Progress”, according to the SSA, was aimed to celebrate the achievements and resilience of women worldwide, while reflecting on the challenges that persist, particularly in the local context of society.

Earlier in her welcome address, Betty reiterated Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda in achieving and sustaining women’s investment in Delta State, and the need for the effective inclusion of women who are willing and able to make contributions to national development.

She underscored the prevalence of socio-cultural and religious norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls as a pressing issue that demands immediate attention and urged for increased investment in efforts to dismantle these harmful norms, reform discriminatory laws, and challenge regressive religious beliefs.

While thanking Governor Oborevwori-led administration for providing women with expanded economic opportunities and promoting their active participation in decision-making processes at all levels, she reaffirmed her commitment to advancing this agenda and working alongside partners and stakeholders to drive meaningful change for women in Delta State.

Also speaking at the event, was the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Mrs. Arinze Patricia, Lecturer, Federal College of Education, Asaba commended the SSA for her continuous engagement with women, inspiring and motivating them towards achieving sustainable development.

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She noted that women’s invaluable contributions to societal development serve as beacons of inspiration, demonstrating the power of determination, resilience, and compassion in transforming lives and communities.

In her keynote message, Mrs. Okekpolo Ogochuku, Director International Forum for Women in Energy Oil and Gas (WEOG), stressed the need for women to be positively inspired and noted that to accelerate women’s progress, women must rise to the understanding and inclusion of their potential and contributions as paramount to national development.

Similarly, Mrs. Clara Omoroh, Vice Chairperson for the International Federation of Women Lawyers -FIDA Warri Chapter, urged women to train their children both male and female to enable a more gender-friendly environment where women and girls would be recognized as a catalyst for development and not rivals.

Eight women were empowered with cash tokens at the occasion by the SSA, urging them to key into the knowledge gained from the program by investing the money into businesses of their choice in their respective communities.