An , Lift-A-Widow Initiative, an NGO, has urged women in rural communities in Anambra to form co-operatives to empower themselves and be self-reliant. Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa-Mbah, the President of the organisation, urged the women to use cooperatives to organise themselves yourselves to become more relevant in in the economy of the state. Ezenwa-Mbah made the call in Achina, a community near Nnewi in Anambra. She said that a rural woman could improve her economic status by belonging to one form of cooperative society. She said that sensitisation of women on their health, hygiene, environmental cleanliness and other life saving issues would be more effective through cooperatives.

The president said that women would have one voice on national issues and be able to pool their resources when they do so through a group. “Most Governors and Chairmen of local government areas are more comfortable working with cooperatives to empower the marginalised persons among us.               “Training and workshops are better facilitated when the participants are coming from one group or another. “Traders, farmers and small-scale business co-operatives have been known to speed-up the process of empowerment for their members,” she said.

The president noted that many NGOs were ready to assist cooperative societies with start-up funds and technical assistance in whatever venture the society was established.

“All of us must make our women and widows self-reliant. “That is the easiest way to put food on the family’s table and to ensure educational training of their children,’’ she added.