By Daniel Tyokua
Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI) has urged governments to sustain women empowerment programs in the society.
During activities to mark this year International Women’s Day (IWD) in Abuja, the Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), formerly called Helpline Foundation for the Needy, supported over 200 vulnerable women in soap-making and turban crafting skills as well as packaging/marketing strategies.
Helpline, in partnership with another Organisation, Barek Charity Foundation facilitated the provision of the skills to the beneficiaries drawn from HSSI’s clusters of vulnerable women groups in FCT and its neighbouring states.
The NGOs however, used the occasion to call on the government at all levels to ensure easy access to empowerment sustainability programmes such as financial and other material grants to women with skills, to enable them positively change the economy and the society.
The Executive Director, Barek Charity Foundation, Mrs Comfort Omoya, explained that the training, which was in line with this year’s IWD theme: “Empower a woman, accelerate progress”, aimed at strengthening women economically and otherwise, to become self-reliant in the society.
Omoya added that beyond the training, they would be given a soft skill and turban materials as well as soap components, to enable them use the acquired skills to grow themselves.
According to her, “When you empower a woman, it has a ripple effect. You empower her, she empowers her children, the community, and the world. We are partnering with Helpline to empower women. It’s been doing this kind of outreach programme for over 20 years, that is why we are partnering with them to do same.
“Today, we received testimonies from women that had been impacted by Helpline Initiative. So, it is a privilege that we are partnering with them to touch and transform lives.
“The government can come in with empowerment sustainability programmes such as grants to women; giving these women financial support, and materials to help them continue to carry out these skills. Government plays important role in ensuring that women are empowered.
“So, government’s involvement is beyond just a few individuals coming together to reach out to vulnerable women. They are our mother body, and what they have to do is huge, as such supporting the people will go a long way, as it would positively change the economy and the society.
Earlier, the Project Manager, Helpline Social Support Initiative, Arome Onoja, said the NGO led by its president, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, has been in the business of advocating, training, and supporting women in Abuja and beyond especially women experiencing difficulties are being taken care of and given necessary support to achieve their potentials.
He said: “Today, Helpline has joined the world in celebrating women from all sections of the society and to impact their lives through skill acquisitions and vocational knowledge for the purpose of sustaining livelihood and reducing economic stress post on them.
“When we invest in women, we invest in the future. By providing women with access to education, health care, and economic opportunities, we can unlock their full potentials and drive economic growth.
“Numerous studies have shown that when women are empowered, economies thrive and closing the gender gap in the workforce also can lead to increased productivity innovation, and profitability.
“We therefore call on all and sundries to join us in one spirit as we work to bringing succor to the vulnerable women and others from all sections.”
“One of the beneficiaries from Suleja HSSI cluster, Mrs. Safiya Alhassan, who is a mother of four children, appealed that after the fruitful exposure to soap-making skills and packaging strategies, the government should support them with adequate funds for purchasing of the requisite chemicals for such production.
“I want to make use of the skills that I have acquired from the programme to start a business, to the benefit of my family and my community.
” I want government to give us something that would enable us to buy the materials, so that we go back and make use of the acquired skills. And we will not be begging anyone to always support us to survive.”
