…sets up skills acquisition programme for widows, women and youths
A non-governmental organisation, the United Business Women Association of Nigeria and Diaspora has empowered over 1,000 widows, women and youths in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The beneficiaries received bags of rice, wrappers, souvenirs and cash gifts, among other items.
The Founder, Dr Nkiruka Duru, while inaugurating the association in the state, said she was passionate about women, who were engaged in meaningful ventures.
She said her dream is to ensure that women speak with one voice against injustices and maltreatment.
She said, “Women have suffered a lot in this country from poverty and bad governance.
“We found out that women, especially the business women do not have a say in the society.
“We want to make women have their say; we want to be voice of women. To bring women together and chat a course for ourselves.
“We want to make women know that even in their villages, they have rights to good things and that they are no longer confined to the kitchen.”
Duru further revealed that the association, founded in 2020, has over 100,000 members in the 36 states of the Federation and over 500 members in 20 countries.
She also disclosed that her association had set up skills programme where widows, women and youths acquire various skills for self-reliance and empowered with various equipment at the end of each training.
Declaring the event open, Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 governorship election in Anambra, Mr Valentine Ozigbo commended women for their roles in building the home, community and the nation.
Ozigbo, who was represented by his running mate in the election, Mrs Azuka Enemuo, however regretted that not much had been done to assist women in the country.
He also commended the founder of the association for her capacity to draw women together to empower them.
“Do not relent in doing that which will make the country better,” he advised.
Also speaking, State Coordinator of the association, Amb. Hon. Ngozi Obiakor, said the group had impacted positively on the lives of women and children in the past two years.
She said the group had spread across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state with over 20,000 members.
“Our aim is to help the needy; when you look back towards the time of COVID-19, we went round all the state to make sure that children were not hungry.
“We have a way of helping the widows,” Obiakor added.
Highpoint of the event was award presentation to five persons in recognition of their contributions to humanity.
Two award recipients, Ezinne Cecilia Okpala and Chief Mike Obim expressed delight at the honour and prayed God to continue to give the founder strength to sustain the programme.
