By Stella Anekwe
The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, on July 8, says the ministry will soon resume its skills acquisition and empowerment programme for women across the state.
Onyekesi disclosed this during her inaugural meeting with staff of the ministry in Awka, adding that application forms for the programme would soon be available to interested participants.
She said the initiative was designed to equip women with vocational skills and promote their economic empowerment in line with the ministry’s mandate.
The commissioner directed heads of the ministry’s eight departments to work collaboratively to achieve set objectives and commence the submission of monthly activity reports to improve monitoring and service delivery.
She also said the ministry was considering establishing a counselling unit to address the increasing number of family related and social welfare cases requiring intervention.
Onyekesi warned against any breach of due process in child adoption, stressing that illegal adoption, child trafficking and the sale of children would not be tolerated. She urged officers in the Child Welfare Department to adhere strictly to established legal procedures in handling adoption matters.
The commissioner further called on staff to uphold professionalism, unity and integrity, noting that the ministry would focus on advancing women development and improving social welfare services in line with the policies of the Soludo administration.
In her remarks, the Supervisory Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Barr. Jacinta Nkeiruka Mokwe, described the meeting as timely and assured the commissioner of the staff’s commitment to implementing her programmes for improved service delivery.
Heads of the departments of Administration, Accounts, Planning, Research and Statistics, Rehabilitation, Child Welfare, Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Public Relations also presented briefs on their mandates during the meeting.
Stella Anekwe is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
