Ogun Plans To Strengthen Its Empowerment Efforts As NAWOJ Calls For Assistance To Grassroots Women

ABEOKUTA – Ogun State government has announced plans to strengthen its grassroots empowerment efforts and boost the living condition of local residents as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Day of the Rural Women.

The Commissioner for Rural Development Mr. Taiwo Oludotun made the submission when he led a delegation from the Ministry to the rural women’s training programme organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in conjunction with Gender Development Initiative (GENDI).

The Commissioner who explained that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration had introduced strategies to further empower the rural women promised that all participants in training programme would be supported with the required capital to engage in small businesses.

Mr. Oludotun acknowledged the great contributions of rural communities and residents to boosting the state’s food production capacity and advised them to take advantage of the empowerment programmes to promote self-reliance.

Earlier, the State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs. Modupeola Sobukonla had explained that the Association was concerned about the plight of rural women and expressed optimism that the participants would explore the opportunities different areas of skills acquisition training to support their families.

Mrs. Sobukonla described the theme of the celebration: “Building Rural Women’s Resilience in the Wake of COVID-19” as a clarion call to all stakeholders to rise to the responsibility of assisting grassroots women to overcome the prevailing economic challenges.

Speaking on modern trends in the industry, an Agricultural Extension Officer from Ogun State Agriculture Development Project, OGADDEP, Mrs. Funmi Falade encouraged the women to adopt new methods of processing and packaging farm produce to boost their income generation.

Also, representative of GENDI, Mrs. Abimbola Shobo counseled the need women to maintain menstrual hygiene and promote hygienic practices and overall wellbeing of their children, especially the females.

Experts from the Non-Governmental Organisation also took turns to train the women on the techniques of liquid soap production.

In a remark, the Baale of Idi-Ori Village, venue of the event, Chief Daud Adegboyega who commended NAWOJ for the initiative, called the attention of the state government to the deplorable state of the only road linking the community to the state capital.