The Deputy Governor of
Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, has called on membership of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Women Associaton (UEWA) to embark on specific programmes that will develop vulnerable women, youths, less privileged and particularly the girl-child.
Dr Banigo, who made the call recently when the leadership of UEWA paid her a courtesy visit in her office, stressed the need to counsel youths to resist crime, “specially with the girl-child now being dragged and co-opted into militancy and kidnapping”.
“There must be conscious, deliberate and collective efforts between the security agents, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and women, if any meaningful results can be achieved in the fight against under-aged crimes”, she said.
Towards this end, the deputy governor called for the education of the girl-child to enable her contribute to the society, especially as they excel in positions of trust given their abilities and for the reduction of maternal mortality rate, as well as teenage pregnancy.
Earlier in her address, the president of UEWA, Mrs Josephine Nkem Bosede Kinanee noted that part of the objectives of UEWA was to encourage women to develop their talents through programmes of association and promoting the welfare of members through sisterly interactions.
In a bid to achieve these objectives, she continued, UEWA focusing on capacity building, research, peace-building, mobilisation and advocacy.
She used the opportunity to pledge the loyalty of UEWA towards the aspiration of the state government under the leadership of chief Nyesom Wike.