Etsako East Local Government Chairman, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh (l), in collaboration with a non-governmental organization (NGO) - DreamWorld Leadership Initiative For Girls, celebrated women at the Councils secretariat yesterday, as part of the International Women''s Day.
By The Nigerian Observer
March 28, 2024
Over 500 Etsako East Local Government Area women drawn from the three geopolitical zones of Ibie, Okpella and Agenebode witnessed and benefitted from the gesture of the Etsako East Local Government Chairman, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh in collaboration with a non-governmental organization (NGO) – DreamWorld Leadership Initiative For Girls – as part of the celebration of the International Women’s Day and distribution of palliatives.
Speaking on behalf of the DreamWorld Leadership Initiative For Girls, the representative of the organization, Miss Blessing Igbon, said the NGO has been involved in amplifying the voice of women across Nigeria in the past years as an advocacy group with landmark achievements in the training and empowerment of widows.
She said the DreamWorld Leadership Initiative has scaled up awareness of gender-based violence and female molestation and torture by sponsoring and securing justice for girls. She called on mothers present to protect their children against all forms of molestation, saying that parents should not hide the evidence when any ugly incident happens to their daughters but promptly report any issue of rape.
She thanked the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government who she described as the brainbox behind the success story of the DreamWorld Leadership Initiative For Girls. Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh is known across Nigeria because of her advocacy programme for the less fortunate through her various NGOs. She called on other well-meaning Nigerians to support her in making life worth living for the less fortunate in society.
Also speaking, Princess Meriam, the Edo State representative, 50 Million African Women Speak Project (Federal Ministry of Women Affairs), said, Women go through a lot to bring up children in addition to doing about 10 things almost at the same time: Bathing children, feeding them, taking them to school, washing dishes and clothes as well as preparing meal for her husband as he returns from work and many more. It is very important to balance these activities with our health.
Earlier in her presentation, the Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh, said the gathering was to celebrate motherhood and to celebrate women as March is a women’s month, which coincided with her birthday.
According to a statement by Benjamin Atu, Chief Press Secretary, Etsako East Local Government, she, however, expressed worry that women are not always given the chance to exhibit their potentials due to cultural and religious prejudice, adding that Governor Godwin Obaseki should be applauded and appreciated for his deliberate steps to make more women visible in politics knowing that men alone can not make a society.
“Today, I am the first elected female chairman in the history of Etsako East Local Government and Edo North. The Governor of Edo State deserves commendation for making this history a reality and what does this mean to women? It means our day has broken. It means more women will be elected as Chairmen and vice chairman as well as be appointed to sensitive and important positions such as Secretary to the council. Women must participate in politics so that our voice can be heard,” Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh admonishes the women at the well attended ceremony at the Council Secretariat, Agenebode.
“My birthday was Tuesday, last week and I decided to spread joy to our sisters and mothers today as part of the celebration. Whatever that is given to you here today, please, collect it with happiness. I have plans for women. Very soon we shall open a free training centre for women to learn various trades for free at the Ogbaki Primary School, Agenebode.
The process is ongoing and shall be completed soon. The Agenebode market lock-up stores will soon start and I am doing it so that our women can have a comfortable place to market their farm products. I am a mother and I know what mothers are going through. I will not let you down. I will continue to be the advocate of Women. My office is open any time you have anything to tell me come to my office I will see you. One on one.”
While pledging her continued support for women’s affairs across the Etsako East local government she thanked the wife of the Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki for creating an enabling environment for Edo Women to be integrated into governance through various appointments and leadership responsibilities. She said women’s visibility is key to self-actualization.
The Etsako East Local Government Chairman expressed the need for women to support themselves rather than pull down each other. Princess Benedicta tasked women to be proactive by educating rural women and helping to develop skills among them.
Women should stop positioning themselves as people who should be pitied. We have equal capacity at the stage of play with the male folks. That is why Nigerian women must be deliberate and intentional in their actions just like the men she said.
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The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, since 1968 by the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) and is owned by the Edo State Government
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