The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, in collaboration with Ebonyi state government through its Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has graduated over twenty survivors of Gender-based violence and people with disabilities trained free in various skills.
The beneficiaries were also empowered with starter packs and equipment in their various areas of specialisation worth millions of naira to enable them commence production for their economic independence.
The basic skill areas covered in the three months training included hair dressing, tailoring and confectionary, among others.
The graduation and empowerment event was held Friday, December 12, at the Remand Home, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital as an integral part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism 2025, in Ebonyi state.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr. Felicia Nwamkpuma, declaring the even open, said the essence was to equip the survivors with market-related skills to foster economic autonomy and enhance their dignity and self esteem.
She commended Governor Francis Nwifuru and the wife, Uzoamaka, for what she described as “their steadfast interest and commitment to the welfare of the people, especially the women children and less privileged”.
While commending the UNFPA for their unalloyed dedication to bettering the lives of women their various joint programmes, including sensitisation on Female genital mutilation and other forms of violence, she urged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipments and materials effectively.
“I wish to draw the attention of the beneficiaries to the fact that the skills you have just acquired are actually ladders to attain independence and self-sufficiency.
“They are not only to provide you with a means of livelihood but also to foster a sense of self-esteem and dignity”, Nwamkpuma stated.
The UNFPA Coordinator in the State and Director of planning in the Ministry of Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics, Comrade Chijioke Ogbodo, in his remarks said the state government’s collaboration with UNFPA has produced tangible results, adding that the collaborative campaign has reduced Female Genital Mutilation from 74% to 53%.
He noted that the skills training and empowerment was one of the gains of the partnership, assuring the the Ministry of Budget would continue to sustain the counterpart funding arrangement for continued development of the state.
Others who spoke at the event, including the Head of Department of Women Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs Nwakaego Igboke; Head of Administration, Comrade Charles Nwali, and the State GBV Taskforce Coordinator, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, appreciated the State government for consistently paying their counterpart funding which has engineered the rewarding partnership with UNFPA.
In their seperate speeches, they admonished the beneficiaries to effectively utilize the skills and materials in such a manner as to extend similar gesture to others.
Some of the obviously excited beneficiaries, including Benedicta Nwoba, Mary Eze and Ukamaka Enyiukpo from the tailoring, catering and hair dressing departments respectively, appreciated the government, UNFPA and their tutors for the opportunity and the value added to their lives
They pledged to employ the skills and empowerment items judiciously to benefit not only them and thei families, but humanity in general.
Highlight of the event was the exhibition of some of the products of the graduates, including dresses, cakes and wigs.
Meanwhile, the Ministry in collaboration with UNFPA had earlier in the week taken sensitization campaign against GBV to the Ebonyi state special school of the blind, Opefia in Izzi Local government area as part of its 16 days of activism programme.
By Oswald Agwu
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