Hopes abound in the horizon for improved livelihoods for women in Rivers State, especially, in Ogoniland as civil society organizations led by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre pledge to partner together to expand the scope of investment opportunities for them.
These organizations include Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), McJim Foundation, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Fate Initiative, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth, Bank of Agriculture, and Tai Local Government Legislative Assembly.
Speaking at a Stakeholder Forum in Port Harcourt with theme: “Assessment of Women Livelihoods Needs in Ogoniland: Challenges and Prospects” on Friday, October 30, 2020 in Port Harcourt, Founder and Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, Bridget Emem Okon said the event was focused on “promoting women’s inclusion in livelihood decision making for sustainable livelihoods”.
She informed that a research conducted by Kebetkache in furtherance of the Restoring Social Contract Project under the CORDAID Strategic Partnership would “contribute to promoting full participation of women in the decision making processes in the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report and the Ogoni clean-up exercise”.
The seasoned development activist, who has distinguished herself as a feminist, grassroots mobilizer, gender specialist, social change advocate, Pan Africanist and a development practitioner, has successfully led grassroots campaign in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and across Africa with over 20 years’ experience.
Okon, who is also a member of the NEITI Civil Society Steering Committee in Nigeria, member, International Alliance for Natural Resources in Africa (IANRA) Civil Society Steering Committee, serves as an alternate member, Governing Council of HYPREP on implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Aside being recognized for her efforts by the Women International Centre USA in 2017, the Akwa Ibom born activist was awarded the Justice Builder of the Year 2019 by the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) in recognition of her contributions to women empowerment and development, among several other awards.
At the event, Leader of Tai Local Government Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Sunday assured that he and his colleagues synergizing with their counterparts in Eleme, Gokana, and Khana LGAs would work towards providing the needed legal framework to enable the right environment for women in Ogoniland to pursue their aspirations.
Also speaking, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Bank of Agriculture, Prince Niyi Akenzua praised the efforts of Kebetkache in furthering the interests of the womenfolk, especially, with special focus on improving their livelihoods and economically empowering them, promising that the Bank of Agriculture will continue to partner with Kebetkache’s initiatives aimed at supporting women to empower themselves.
On their part, Program Manager, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Temidayo Babatunde Salaudeen, Project Officer, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth; Kentebe Ebiaridor and Rukevwe Siakpere of the Centre for Human Rights, Environment and Development (CEHRD); Kabara Sam, Executive Director, McJim Foundation, Jim Dorgu, development enthusiast, Madam Namo Grace Windy, and Mr. Furo of Faith Initiative x-rayed issues affecting development dynamics in the country.
They explored the possibilities inherent in an atmosphere that supports women to empower themselves economically and otherwise, urging relevant stakeholders to work towards creating the right environment for development to thrive especially in the rural areas.
Prior to the UNEP Report mandating the Nigerian Government to commence the clean-up of Ogoniland comprising Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai LGAs, the area had suffered environmental degradation due to oil exploration activities by multinationals.
These environmental menace had undermined the possibility of the people of the area benefitting from the natural resources in their homeland, agriculture being the highest casualty. Peasant farmers, especially, women were mostly affected thus grossly reducing the quality of life in the area.
It is in response to these situation that a critical mass of stakeholders such as civil society organizations led by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre commissioned the research project and organized the forum to review the findings, arriving at conclusion which will serve as actionable data for decision-makers to make the right calls for transforming the fortunes of women in Ogoniland.
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