Mrs Wike Receives African Role Model Award

Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has called for the re-orientation of members of the society on the importance of gender equality.
The wife of the governor said this in a paper she presented shortly after receiving the “African Role Model Award” conferred on her by the African Trade Centre at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States, last Monday night.
In the paper titled: “Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Nigeria: A Case Study of Rivers State”, at the African Trade Centre Parallel Event, Justice Nyesom-Wike said remarkable progress has been achieved under the present dispensation for Rivers women.
Mrs Nyesom-Wike said that she established Rivethics on radio to promote the necessity of gender equality for the development of the society.
The wife of the Rivers State governor said that the objective of Rivethics is to build the character of Rivers youth to enable them become agents of development.
She said the goal is to enhance positive behavioural and attitudinal changes, so that people will embrace best practices that will drive societal growth.
According to her, Rivethics adopts measures that promote societal values that enhance equal opportunities for both sexes, because of the recognition that inequality breeds under-development.
She stated that Rivethics has collaborated with women professional organizations and non-governmental organisations to achieve gender equality.
The wife of the Rivers State governor noted that Rivethics was working with the relevant professional organisations to take services closer to women at the grassroots.
In a bid to catch them young, Rivethics clubs have been established in schools to promote the culture of gender equality at that level and get early youth participation.
She said Rivethics will soon engage school children in relevant competitions to discover their talents and ensure that they contribute meaningfully to social growth.
However, it was a moment of pride for Rivers State and Nigerian delegates to the United Nations CSW62 holding at the United Nations in New York as the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Justice Suzzette Nyesom Wike, was presented with the award for her contributions to the empowerment of women and girls all over Africa.
Justice Wike used the opportunity to outline the current interventions by the Rivers State Government and her NGO, Suzzette Family First Foundation (S3F) in empowering rural women and girls.
She stressed the need for non-governmental organizations to further collaborate with the state government in charting a path to ensure that no woman, man, youth or child is left behind in line with the United Nations CSW62 theme.