Nation
DEPOWA Empowers 39 Military Widows, Vulnerable Youths
Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) has empowered 39 military widows and vulnerable barrack youths in Abuja through skill acquisition with starter packs and seed capital.
The President of DEPOWA, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin, disclosed this during the graduation of the batch 9 of DEPOWA Skill Acquisition Centre in Abuja yesterday.
Olonisakin said that the 39 beneficiaries, who were trained in different vacations, comprised 12 widows and 27 other vulnerable youths in the barracks.
She said that it was part of the association’s effort at prioritising the welfare and well-being of the widows of fallen heroes and the needy especially during this period.
She said the beneficiaries were trained in different fields such as tailoring, catering, soap making and hair dressing among others.
According to her, the centre has trained a total of 382 beneficiaries comprising 136 widows and 14 vulnerable youths since inception, adding that the beneficiaries were doing well in their trades.
Olonisakin said the trainees had been groomed to help secure their future as well as make them to become employers of labour and give livelihood to others.
She commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and commandants of tri-service military Institutions for their financial and moral support.
“As it is our custom since the inception of this empowerment programme, the widows among you, will be given trade starter packs and an increased financial assistance to secure a shop,’’ she said.
The Chief of Defence Staff, represented by the Deputy Director, Civil Military Affairs, Brig.-Gen. Efe Edofiaghor, commended DEPOWA for its support in the fight against unemployment in the country.
Olonisakin urged the beneficiaries to adequately utilise the skills they had acquired in supporting themselves and their families as well as contributing to the nation’s economic development.
He pledged to sustain his support for DEPOWA in its humanitarian activities as well as continuous support for the widows and orphans of the deceased personnel of the armed forces.
“You must ensure proper utilisation of the skills by practicing the skills and be innovative in managing the starter packs given to you judiciously.
“This skill acquisition is going to assist them a lot to ensure that they cover up some gaps to take care of the home front in the absence of their husbands.
“With this skill acquisition given to our widows and other vulnerable youths in the barracks and the starter packs and money given, we are sure that a lot of gaps have been covered by DEPOWA on behalf of the armed forces of Nigeria.
“By next year, we expect a lot of testimonies from this set of graduates,’’ he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Victoria Okume, said that DEPOWA had helped in changing her story, adding that she had been empowered to cater for the needs of her family.
Okume said she had acquired requisite skills to start her business and pledged to ensure proper utilisation of the starter pack and the money to rent a shop.
“I know that I have been empowered to be able to take care of my immediate family to pay my children’s school fees, pay hospital bills and other things.
“I appreciate God for the life of DEPOWA President because she has been doing a lot for orphans and the less privilege among us.
“I know that with this starter pack, I will be an independent person because I will not have to go anywhere to look for help again,’’ she said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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