The Delta government says it has empowered over 14,000 women with skills to make them self-reliant.

Pat Ajudua, the state’s commissioner for women affairs, community and social development, said this at the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration on Wednesday in Asaba.

Ms Ajudua said that the women were empowered through the Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP) of the ministry.

She said that the essence was to enable them to contribute to nation building.

She stressed the need for women to be made self-reliant to enable them to overcome obstacles in their struggle for self-actualisation.

Ms Ajudua said that the theme for the 2024 International Women’s Day “Count Her in: Accelerating Gender Equality through Economic Empowerment,” drew attention to the fact that the opinion of women mattered in decision making.

She said that the event gave women globally the opportunity to celebrate socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as draw their attention to specific challenges they faced.

“Some of such challenges include gender-based violence, sexual harassment/abuse, lacking access to basic education and physiological issues like menstrual hygiene, all contribute to limitations faced by the woman.

“The problem of banditry, prostitution, ritual killings, fraud and criminality of all forms are as a result of failure of mothers in bringing up their wards/children,” she said.

In her remarks, Dr Faith Ireye, the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) advised women to avoid stress as much as they could.

Highlight of the event was a dance performance and drama presentation by the troupe from the ministry of arts and culture, which also enacted a play depicting the theme of the event. 

(NAN)