A socio cultural group, the South East Yagba Development Association Women wing (SEYDAW), has empowered over 27 vulnerable women on vocational skills across 14 communities in Yagba East Local Governments Area (LGA) of Kogi State.

The SEYDAW’s National President and Women Leader, Chief (Mrs) Ebunlomo Joel, made the disclosure at the South East Yagba Women’s Day and Fund Raising for Women/Girl-Child empowerment projects, yesterday in Igbagun, Yagba East LGA.

According to her, SEYDAW is a socio cultural association with over 500 active members is working to promote unity, oneness, development and progress amongst womenfolk of the district.  She added that SEYDAW support self help programmes through skills acquisition training and self help projects to reduce poverty amongst the girl-child and the women in general.

Joel noted the association has been supporting girl-child education and women empowerment, campaign against discrimination against girl-child, reintegration and support for teenage mothers, and promotion of reproductive rights.

She explained that the association had established Women and Youths Development Centre where 27 persons had been trained in three vocations, such as Soap making; Bedspread, duvet and throw pillows; and Catering services.  She added that at the end of the training, the beneficiaries were also empowered with startup interest free loans depending on their various vocations.

According to her, a sum of N330,000 cash was given as revolving loan and seven sewing machines worth N378,000 were also distributed to trainees.  She said the association had also established a multipurpose corporative society where members were seriously benefitting, and Traders’ Support loan to assist petty traders to boost their businesses.

She added that a total of 38 people had benefitted from the scheme, while appreciating everyone who has contributed to support the association.  She noted that SEYDAW was also collaborating with an NGO, Dare Venza Foundation to carry out empowerment programmes for widows and students, to reduce their level of hardship.

The women leader appealed to the governments at all levels for adequate protection of the people from all vices of crimes and criminal tendencies across the state.  ‘’We also look forward to the government to work on our roads to ease our movements and the stress of farmers in transporting their goods to markets outside their immediate communities’’, she said.

While appreciating the Government for their efforts to improving standard of education in the state, she appealed for adequate provision of teachers and equipment in their schools.

In his remarks, the chairman, South East Yagba Development Association (SEYDA), Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, commended SEYDAW for showing that women were no longer to be consigned and confined to the sidelines and the background of the development trajectory.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion. Mr Jide Salau, the Managing Director of Kabsal Cargo, Nigeria Limited, commended SEYDAW for their commitment to the implementation of women empowerment scheme, demonstrated through their lives and work towards the empowerment and poverty alleviation initiative.

Also speaking, the grand patron of SEYDA/SEYDAW, Chief Sunmonu Asani, commended the association for impacting positive things on the people through empowerment, love, unity, peace and progress.

Other dignitaries at the events were: Hon. Musa Omiata, member representing Yagba East in Kogi Assembly; representative of Hon. Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba in House of Representatives; and Traditional rulers from various communities in the area.

Kogi commended as oil producing state

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCON), Kogi chapter, has commended  Governor Yahaya Bello over the declaration of Kogi as an oil producing state by the Federal Government.

The HOSTCON’s Chairman, His Eminence, Bishop Gabriel Ojoka, made the commendation at the Inauguration  of Traditional Council Wing of the association in Lokoja.

Ojoka, who doubles as Chairman Northern States’ Area of HOSTCON, appreciated the governor for his commitment and effort which had led to the realisation of the prolonged agitation.

‘’To our leader and dogged state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, we say thank you, we have passed vote of confidence on you,

‘’We believe that in this your time before 2023, Kogi will become another London in Nigeria’’, he said

Ojoka also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking a good position, saying the pronouncement of Kogi as oil producing state, has given them a relief.

He noted that inauguration of the traditional council was to establish the executive members for the work and service delivery to Kogi people in line with programmes, structure and organ of the organisation.

He charged the state traditional council to wake up to the responsibility of hardwork, having in mind that bringing anything good to Kogi amounts to a lot of contention.

According to him, since 2016, we have been on this struggle advocating for the declaration of Kogi State as  an oil producing because we are very sure that there is oil in Ibaji though we have had a contention with Anambra State for a very long time.

‘’We can now look up for development, diversification from oil to gas and agriculture. God is on our side, and we are saying big congratulations to Kogi people.’’

‘’Now that oil has come we believe with the power and input of our governor, job is coming for the youths; very soon we will go into pipeline security surveillance recruitment’’, he said

Ojoka stressed that oil and gas remained a national issue and not dealing with a particular community, saying the 13 per cent derivative would be used to develop every area of the three senatorial zones.

The HOSTCON traditional council members include: His Royal Highnesses; Alh. Khalid Ali, the Ohiogba of Mozum of Igalal/Bassa Kingdom; Alh. Ahmed Ogido, Ohi of Ihima and Chairman Okehi LG Traditional Council:

Others were HRM Williams Ayeni, the Olujumu of Ijumu and Vice Chairman, Okun Traditional Councl; HRH Dr Jacob Odiba, the Odumata Igala; and HRH Alh. Tijani Zuberu, Etsu Nupe, Warri.

The Ohiogba of Mozum, Alh. Khalid Ali, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, said it was a  long anticipated day and thanked the Governor and His Eminence for making it a reality.

‘’ It is a relief to us in Kogi State. We thank God that Gov. Yahaya Bello has the luck of always making Kogi to succeed. We pray that God will prosper and strengthen him, and all other stakeholders in the struggle.

‘’Our Governor is a very lucky governor and I pray that such luck would continue to follow him and the people of Kogi State’’.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of letters and certificates of membership to the traditional council wing of HOSTCON.