Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT TRAINED AND EMPOWERED 20 GBV SURVIVORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

As part of the activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activisim, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) empowered 20 GBV survivors and women living with disabilities, after a three month intensive skill acquisition training in areas of confectionery, hairdressing and tailoring.
In her address, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Barr. Mrs. Felicia Nwamkpuma, appreciated His Excellency Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and his wife Chief Mrs Mary- Mauldline Uzoamaka Nwifuru for their steadfast interest and commitment to the welfare of the people especially the women, children and the less privileged.
She equally extended her gratitude to UNFPA for their unalloyed dedication to bettering the lives of the women through their numerous programmes geared towards eliminating female ge***al mutilation (FGM) and other related violence against women in the State.
To the beneficiaries, the Commissioner urged them to utilise the opportunity provided to them to build strong support for their families and society at large. She noted that stater packs will be given to them to enable them to set up their own business, having been equipped with the necessary skills to attain independence and self-sufficiency.
The starter packs comprise items for confectionery production, tailoring materials, and hair dressing equipment.
While handing over the items to some of the beneficiaries, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Linda Chinyere Alo commended them for their patience during the training and urged them to use the items judiciously to enhance their families while aspiring for greater heights.
In their separate remarks, the Head of Women Affairs department Mrs Nwakaego Igboke, Head of Administration Department, Comrade Charles Nwali, State GBV Taskforce Coordinator, Barr Faithvin Nwanchor and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Chijioke Ogodo, admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the skills acquired and the items provided to improve their lives and others.
Two of the beneficiaries, Eze Blessing and Enyiukpo Ukamaka, thanked the organisers of the programme for the kind gesture extended to them and promised to properly utilise them
Highlights of the event were showcasing of products of the training, presentation of empowerment items and certificates, as well as cutting of cake prepared by the confectionery section.

A 3 MONTHS LIFE SKILL VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR GBV SURVIVORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, KICKS OFF TODAY.
A 3 months life skill vocational training for GBV survivors and women living with disabilities organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development commensed today at the Remand Home, Ugwuachara The trainIng which is aimed at providing and equiping the vulnerable women with skills and knowledge that would enable them to become self-reliant and ecenomicaly viable, was flagged off by the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Barr. Mrs Felicia Nwamkpuma. The training which will last for 3 months is in areas of tailoring, confectioners and hair dressing.
The Commissioner who expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Governor and his dear wife, for their love and committent to the welfare of the women children, and the vulnerable in the state, also appreciated, the United Nations Populations Fund(UNFPA) for their unwavering support and partnership which will create a lasting change and promote a society that values and empowers every individual . She noted that the beneficiaries will be empowered with relevant equipment at the end of the training to enable them to set up their own business.
She therefore urged them to make good use of the opportunity provided by the state Government through the programme to learn, skills that would enable them grow and thrive so as to become self sufficient, thereby building sustainable incomes for themselves and their families.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mrs Linda Chinyere Alo encouraged the beneficiaries to be determined and attentive while acquring the skills that would be a life saver for them and their families.
Earlier, the Head of Women Affairs department Mrs Nwakaego Igboke, in her welcome address, thanked the Hon. Commissioner for the opportunity provided for the training , stressing that it will empower the women and make them self-reliant and equally promote their welfare.
In a vote of thanks, one of the beneficiaries, Ugwu Brenda, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity provided to them to learn.

EBONYI STATE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CONDUCTS A 3-DAY LIFE SKILLS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR VULNERABLE WOMEN IN THE STATE.

The Ministry of Women Affairs &
Social Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), carried out a 3 day vocational training on life skill and empowernment for twenty vulnerable women including, women living with Disabilities and survivors of GBV with the aim of acquainting them with basic skills and knowledge that would aid their survival in the society as regards to all forms of violence.
During the flag off of the training, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Mrs. Felicia Nwamkpuma, in her address, expressed her appreciation to UNFPA for their effort and support in combating GBV and other related harmful practices against women in the state . She noted that the rights of the girl child, women, and the vulnerable are protected through their numerous programs.
she, however, urged the participants to utilize the opportunity given to them adequately so that they could acquire the knowledge needed to improve their lives and that of their families and Communities.
Facilitators including Doris Ajah-Okoha(Research in Developmentand Health care- Consultancy RIDHEC-C) Ngozi Roland( MinistryofHealth) and Oluchi Esther Nwite( Hope-Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth with Disabilities HIFWYD) delivered teachings centred on various topics including
- Self Esteem, Values, Goal setting
- Negotiation and Refusal Skills, Decision making, Time management
- Effect of teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion, pregnancy prevention methods,
Understanding GBV, Technology Facilliated GBV, amongst others

In her remarks, the HOD Women Affairs Department, Mrs Igboke Nwakaego, enjoined the participants to be attentive to the teachings that would properly equip them to stand on their own. She equally noted that the Ministry, in collaboration with UNFPA, will carry out skill acquisition in areas of tailoring, confectionery, and hair dressing for the participants who will also be empowered to set up their own business.

Also speaking, the coordinator GBV task force, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor and her team further encouraged the participants to always say no to all forms of violence and to equally speak out when violated.

UNFPA SUPPORTS THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE SKILL ACQUISITION TO THE VULNERABLE IN THE STATE.
BY Uche Nkechi
Head Public Relations

During the official handover of the equipped unit of the Rehabilitation Centre, Ugwuachara,the Hon Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, expressed gratitude to UNFPA for their immense support to the state, especially as it concerns women, she noted that the unit which was equipped with state of the art instructional materials was aimed at supporting the economy and livelihood of
women.
She, however, gave the assurance that the Ministry would ensure that women, especially GBV Survivors and the indigent, are provided with skills to enable them become economically viable and self reliant thereby contributing to nation building.
Earlier, the HOD Women Affairs Department, Mrs Roseline Olughu orji, in her remark, stated that the centre would be a safe haven for vulnerable individuals to find solace,healing,and empowerment,noting that the centre will offer essential services such as psychosocial counselling and skills acquisition with the aim of rehabilitation ,enpowerment, and transformation of the needy.
Also speaking, the UNFPA Head of Cross River sub-office/ program coordinator, Dr Andrew Kirima during the handover of the upgraded Ebonyi State Rehabilitation Centre to the Ministry, said that the
United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) is the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Agency working with government and civil society organisations to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potentials is fulfilled and has been committed to the 2030 developmental agenda in ensuring zero preventable maternal death, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender based violence and harmful practices, including FGM and child marriage.
He noted that UNFPA had collaborated with the Ebonyi State Government for over 16 years and had invested in various interventions aimed at preventing and responding to survivors of GBV.
Dr.Kirima said that UNFPA supported the Ministry to upgrade and equip the Centre inorder to provide vocational skills to vulnerable women and girls in the State including Survivors of GBV, vesico vaginal fistula as well as women with disabilities so as to improve their economic livelihood, while noting that economically viable women have greater decision making in the home and community which positively impacts their own and family's well-being.
The coordinator of GBV taskforce, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, stated
that the centre which will provide access to economic autonomy, financial empowernment and skills acquisition will also be a safe place for the Survivors.
Item in the centre includes;
5 complete set of hair dressing and barbing items with cupboard for the hair dressing section,10 sewing machines and 6 dummy with cupboard for the tailoring section and set of kitchen utensils including gas cooker, gas cylinder, frying pans, cupboard etc for the catering/confectionery section.

THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BEGINS EVACUATION AND TREATMENT OF MENTALLY CHALLENGED IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in her avowed determination to sanitise the capital city, has embarked on raiding, evacuation,treatment and rehabilitation of mentally challenged persons loitering the metropolis.
This action kicked off when five mentally challenged, including two male and three female, were raided and taken to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, for onward treatment.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr,Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma in an interaction with the press, maintained that the Government of Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and his wife, Chief Mrs Mary-Mauldline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, who is committed to the welfare of the vulnerable, including beggars, mentally challenged etc ,is supporting the Ministry to ensure a better society for all.
She said that the five mentally challenged taken to the hospital will receive adequate medical attention and subsequent empowernment and reunion with their families.
She equally stated that the action will be in batches but however appealed to families that has such cases not to allow them loiter the streets causing nuisance and projecting a bad image of the State, but rather to provide medical care to them.
Also speaking, the HOD Social Work, Dr. Mrs Mary Otu and the assistant Director in Nursing in the psychiatric unit, Mrs Okpara Mary, in their separate speeches, pointed out the possible causes of mental problems to include;harsh environment, unemployment, negligence from families, drug abuse, cultism, psychological and even hereditary factors.
They further stated that treatment w will commence immediately with the assurance of getting a positive result in two weeks.
The team for the raid which included staff of the Ministry, Security personnel, press was led by the HOD Social Welfare Department of the Ministry, Barr. Virginia Nweze.

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in an effort to carry out its mandate, is taking a step forward by embarking on a campaign against child abuse, to ensure that the roads in the Capital city are rid of street beggers and hawkers especially the underaged children, who has constituted a great nuisance and is equally exposed to dangers. The campaign was kicked off with a roadwalk by the staff of the Ministry to sensitise the public on the dangers of exposing the children to unconducive encironment and equally dening them the privilege of going to school.
The Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Barr Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma who led the roadwalk from PA Ngene Oruta stadium to sperandeo, noted that the Ministry was set to ensure that the rights ot the children are protected.
According to the Commissioner, child abuse is prevalent in the metropolis especially in Udensi roundabout, Sperandeo and Presco junction axis where underaged children and the vulnerable are engaging in street begging and hawking instead of being in school.
Barr. Nwankpuma therefore stated that a commitee has been set up with the mandate of capturing their data for subsequent actions which includes empowernment through skill acquisition.
She equally called on citizens to avail their children the opportunity of enjoying the free education system of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who has the interest of the people at heart.
The Commissioner also noted that the mentally deranged will not be left behind in the campaign as the Ministry will liaise with the Ministry of Health and Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital to have them treated and reunited with their families.

Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with office of Her Excellency, wife of Ebonyi State Governor celebrates 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities today 3rd December, in grand style at the Women Development Center ( WDC). is ability in disability, let us make disability inclusion, a reality. #

The Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief Mrs Deborah Chinwe Okah, has demonstrated once again, the State Government's readiness to ensure that the welfare of the citizenry is protected. She made this known when she received 13 year old Miss Aleke Chiamaka Marvelous, who was repatriated from Delta State by the members of the Ebonyi State forum in Delta State.
The Commissioner who was highly elated by the kind gesture of the forum, commended them for their effort in ensuring that the girl was taken care of health-wise and otherwise and also brought back to her State.
She further appreciated them on their prompt response when they got the information about her, and also ensured that the case was taken to court for justice to take its full course, noting that not everyone would have done so, especially for a stranger.
She however assured them that the State Government will ensure that the victim is well taken care of and also promised to make her dream of going to school a reality.
Mrs Okah further appreciated Ikwo LGA Chairman for his response and prompt actions on the matter.
Earlier, the Chairman Ebonyi State Forum in Delta State, Mr Peter Ezeokeh, said that they were in the state to hand over to the Commissioner, Miss Chiamaka, who was a victim of child trafficking.
According to him, Chiamaka was taken from her village at Ikwo, with the promise of engaging her as house help, but unfortunately was deceitfuly taken to Burkina Faso for prostitution. She was told on getting there that she was bought with N150,000 and that she will make N1.2 million Naira for her madam and equally work extra months to earn her freedom. But the girl was able to escape and reported to the police which led to her repatriation back to Nigeria.
He also informed the Commissioner that the culprits had been apprehended and the case already in court.
The Chairman assured the Commissioner that the forum will not rest until justice is served.