The recently concluded two-day skills acquisition and empowerment programme held in Lagos resulted in a consensus among the speakers.
In her message to participants at the event, the president of the foundation, Mrs Gloria Ojunta, stated that though several organisations such as her own have been doing a lot in the areas of empowering vulnerable segments of society, particularly women, the government should also join in the fight.
Ojunta stated that the call became pertinent considering the role women play in the family, which she stated is the microunit of society, and that when they (women) are sufficiently empowered, poverty will be greatly reduced in the country.
“Private and religious organisations such as ours have been doing a lot to empower the vulnerable segments of society, especially targeting the women who are exceptional managers of the home front,” she said.
“They also bear effects of crises within the community. Haven’t done much in this regard and considering the limited resources available to government, I am appealing to government at all levels to make this a priority.”
According to her, such intervention will further scale up efforts in that direction as more women would not only be trained in vocational skills that would guarantee their livelihood, but it would also empower them sufficiently economically to effectively cater to the needs of the family, which she described as the bedrock of society.
On her parh, the guest speaker at the event, Pastor Efy Okonkwo, harped more on the virtues of women, whom she described as the givers of life whose welfare and well-being must be protected and safeguarded at all times.
Okonkwo, who is a former national executive member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, urged women to always be cognisant of their place with man and God and to always exhibit Godly attributes at all times in their dealings with those they come across.
