By Marylovina Ezenekwe
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to women’s empowerment, describing women as indispensable partners in economic development and community transformation.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, made this known on June 24, during a courtesy visit by the management team of the Anambra State Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project (AN-NFWP-SU), a World Bank-supported initiative. The delegation was led by the State Project Coordinator, Miss. Hope Nkiruka Okoye, visited the commissioner at his office in the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Dr. Mefor said Governor Chukwuma Soludo has consistently demonstrated his confidence in women through their appointment to strategic positions in government, including the offices of the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service.
According to him, the administration recognises the critical role women play in governance, economic growth and social development.
“For the Solution Government, women are central to everything we do. Men are only fortunate that the governor himself is a man,” he noted.
The commissioner also expressed strong support for the programme’s savings and micro-credit model, noting that women have repeatedly proven themselves to be prudent managers of resources and committed agents of community development.
“If given a choice between equally qualified male and female candidates, I would hire the woman,” he remarked.
He said that women are generally more accountable in managing public and business resources, urging programme managers to ensure that the empowerment opportunities reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly indigent women and widows at the grassroots.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Miss. Hope Nkiruka Okoye, explained that the programme is designed to empower between 120,000 and 150,000 women across six Local Government Areas (LGA) of Anambra State.
She disclosed that beneficiaries would be organised into women’s affinity groups where members can save collectively, accessing small loans to support and expand their businesses.
Miss. Okoye added that the programme would also provide counterpart funding, agricultural equipment such as tractors, health insurance linkages and other support services aimed at improving the livelihoods of participating women.
She said implementation would commence in Aguata LGA before extending to Ogbaru, Njikoka, Awka South, Ayamelum and Ihiala LGA.
Commending the initiative’s grassroots-driven approach, Dr. Mefor assured the team of the Ministry of Information’s full support in creating awareness, mobilising eligible women to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the programme.
In a vote of thanks, the Livelihood Adviser of the project, Mr. Ekene Adokwe, appreciated the commissioner for his valuable insights and recommendations, assuring him that the suggestions would be incorporated into the programme’s implementation strategy.
Marylovina Ezenekwe is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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