NGO Empowers Vulnerable Girls, Women With Skills In Benue

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the aegis of Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI) has spent over N18 million in training vulnerable girls and women in various skills-acquisition programmes and providing start-up kits to foster a sense of belonging.

The executive director of CWIDI, Bridget Okeke, who made this known during the ART X Impact: Dissemination Event and Project Closeout, said that in the last two years, 340 vulnerable girls and women have been trained in skills acquisition, financial literacy, legal rights, and gender-based violence awareness.

According to her, “We have gathered here today to celebrate impact, through our support for vocational skills, and empowerment initiatives, we are not just building capacity, we are restoring dignity, creating opportunities, and enabling young women and girls, including female sex workers, to thrive against all odds.”

She said, “Today marks a milestone as we witness the economic growth and positive changes in the lives of our beneficiaries. We are deeply grateful to our funders, the French Embassy in Nigeria (FEF-CSO), whose support continues to turn hope into reality and uplift communities.”

The ED enjoined the beneficiaries to continue building, growing, and thriving, even as she appealed to the government and stakeholders to ensure a meaningful journey from challenge to change.

She added, “It stands as a symbol of resilience, hope, and inclusion of women and girls in decision-making processes, because true empowerment goes beyond skills; it requires a voice and a seat at the table.”

Earlier, the programme manager, Becky Gbihi, explained that the project, which is implemented in the four LGAs of Gboko, Makurdi, Gwer East and Tarkaa, is targeted at communities where unemployment and social inequality continue to affect the vulnerable populations, especially women and girls, including female sex workers.

Gbihi said, “In response to the existing gaps, the project focused on empowering women and girls including female sex workers, for female sex workers particularly those who are brothel-based by increasing their awareness of their rights, improving access to health and justice services, financial literacy skills and providing vocational skills to support alternative livelihoods.”

“Working closely with community leaders, justice actors, health providers, and the media, the project aimed to create a more supportive and inclusive environment, reduce violence, and improve the social and economic well-being of beneficiaries”, she added.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent, including Cynthia Tortya and Agatha Iorzua, commended CWIDI for giving them a voice in society, saying that they have become employers of labour.