AKSG empowers women to start small business

The Akwa Ibom State  Government has  brought succor to widows in the State as it has, through the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare, empowered them financially to start up small businesses of their own, thereby, putting smiles on their faces, in a bid geared towards poverty reduction.

Declaring open the one-day Widows Empowerment Scheme at the Women Development Centre, along IBB Way in Uyo the State Capital, the State Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, reassured widows and, indeed the totality of women in the State, of Government readiness in ensuring that poverty is drastically reduced among its citizenry.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, the Governor expressed appreciation to the womenfolk for their continuous support for his Administration and always being the pillars upon which their families lean, urging them never to relent in their responsibilities of ensuring that their children are well brought up to become useful citizens.

Mr. Udom charged the widows to so utilise the money given to them by investing in small scale businesses, which will in turn yield returns for them to use in taking care of themselves and their children.

In her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet, while appreciating the State Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, for his magnanimity in identifying with the plight of widows and the less-privileged in the society, stated that her Ministry, being the voice of the voiceless, has the mandate to care for and protect widow
The Commissioner disclosed that the empowerment of widows by her Ministry was a yearly event and was done in batches for widows drawn from the 31 Local Government Areas of the States, while urging all public spirited individuals to rise and render help to widows in their respective communities, saying Government alone cannot do everything.

Dr. Edet used the occasion to call on all Akwa Ibom people to protect the rights of widows and stop all forms of discriminations, violence and obnoxious practices against widows, maintaining that her Ministry will not fail to prosecute culprits.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Mrs. Cecilia Inyang, while encouraging the widows, urged them to trust God to prosper whatever investment they intend to use the money for.
The event also witnessed Paper Presentations on “Small Business and Poverty Reduction” and “Living a Healthy Lifestyle”, by Director, Co-coperative Development, Mrs. Victoria Ukporo and a Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Grace Larry Ekanem respectively.

High point of the occasion was the presentation of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30, 000.00) only, to each of the widows.