French Embassy Fund Backs Project To Transform Benue Women

A non-governmental organisation, Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWID), has trained and equipped 42 vulnerable girls from Benue State with life-changing skills and essential tools.

The programme, funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF), covered human rights, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and leadership skills.

The executive director of CWIDI, Bridget Okeke, who disclosed this in Makurdi, the state capital, during the handover of start-up kits, said the tools were meant to complement the training and provide a sustainable income for the beneficiaries.

Represented by senior programme officer Becky Gbihi, she said CWIDI’s core mission is to protect vulnerable adolescent girls and young women, steering them away from social vices by providing them with meaningful engagement opportunities.

“The training and empowerment are part of our mandate to improve the well-being of vulnerable women, giving them a fresh start to elevate their living conditions,” Okeke said.

“I’m confident that the beneficiaries will apply what they’ve learned and within two years we’ll see a new wave of entrepreneurs and employers of labour,” she said.

Some of the beneficiaries, Cynthia Tortya, Agatha Iorzua and Vanessa Paul, thanked the organisers.

Linda Dirisu of the Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre and commissioner for Women Affairs Theresa Ikwue, represented by Grace Akende, urged the girls to make the best use of the resources.

They were trained in hairdressing, nail fixing, makeup artistry and tailoring. They received sewing machines, ovens, gas cylinders and makeup/nail sets to launch their businesses.