The Ministries of Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, and Women, Children and Social Affairs of the State of Osun, have resolved to collaborate towards resuscitating Women Development Centers in all theLocal Government Areas of the State.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Barrister Bukola Olaboopo, and her team, to the Ministry of Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs.
Speaking during the visit, Barrister Olaboopo said that there had been an upsurge in domestic violence against women and children, which is largely attributable to poverty, adding that the resuscitation of women development centers across the state will play a significant role in stemming the ugly trend.
Commenting further on how the centres would be deployed to address the issue of poverty, and by extension the menace of violence, Olaboopo said that “the project would start by issuing forms to interested women who would be empowered through vocational trainings like bead making, soap making, adire making, and several other ventured after which they would be issued certificates upon graduation.”
Olaboopo added that the initiative was actually an initiative of the wife of the Governor of the State of Osun, but the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs would pilot the scheme to bring it to fruition.
Speaking on how the Local Government would be part of the project, Olaboopo said “One of the major areas is for the Council Chairmen to have the political will and get the centers renovated where they are already available”.
Responding to the issues raised by Olaboopo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, expressed regrets about the rate of poverty among women, adding that the development centers in all Councils would be a veritable avenue for the State to empower women and lift the spirit of women and children who have no hope.
In his words, “we will do everything within our power as a Ministry to collaborate with other relevant agencies of government to make it work.”
Adeleke charged the Ministry of Women Affairs to review their strategies in such ways that they would own the project, while assuring them of the support of the local governments towards the success of the programme.
“We can look the way of partnering with some financial institutions that can give interest-free loans for the trainees to start after the training”, Adeleke added.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Rasaki Adeosun, suggested that there was the need to bring in wives of the local government chairmen to make the projects work effectively , noting that the program would be worthwhile and its implementation not debatable.
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