By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has emphasized the critical importance of advancing women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion initiatives nationwide to foster sustainable national development.
The Governor made this statement during the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a World Bank initiative, on Wednesday in Asaba.
The committee is chaired by Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, the State Focal Person and Commissioner for Economic Planning, with Mrs. Pat Ajudua, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, serving as Co-Chair.
The committee also includes various commissioners from sectors such as Primary Education, Water Resources, and Agriculture, alongside the Chief Economic Adviser and the Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs.
During the inauguration, Governor Oborevwori expressed his gratitude to the World Bank for selecting Delta State for this significant initiative and urged the committee members to commit fully to their responsibilities.
He noted that the key principles of economic empowerment, capacity building, and social inclusion align seamlessly with the “Opportunity for All” pillar of his administration’s MORE agenda.
“The Nigeria for Women Project has shown promising potential as a robust platform to tackle the unique socio-economic challenges faced by women, especially those at the grassroots level,” the Governor stated.
He highlighted the administration’s efforts to increase women’s political participation through key appointments and elected positions, recognizing the vital role women play in fostering societal change and contributing their distinct skills to governance.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a household,” emphasized Oborevwori, acknowledging the valuable contributions of women to his administration.
“We recently launched the MORE grant scheme aimed at supporting approximately 5,000 women in Delta State, demonstrating our commitment to their empowerment.
“By enhancing women’s economic status, we can significantly improve their self-worth and enable them to take charge of their lives, leading to broader community development and happiness.”
Assuring his full support for the program, the Governor affirmed, “Our administration is dedicated to ensuring the Nigeria for Women Project’s success not just in our state, but throughout Nigeria.”
Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, the World Bank Team Leader for the NFWP, remarked that the program stands out as the World Bank’s flagship initiative for women’s economic empowerment, poised to create transformative impacts within families and communities.
He explained that the project aims to provide vulnerable women with access to financial resources and markets, which can ultimately help combat malnutrition and reduce infant mortality rates.
In response, Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, the Chairman of the committee, expressed his gratitude to the Governor for the opportunity to serve, pledging that the committee would work diligently to ensure the program’s success and contribute positively to the Governor’s MORE agenda.
