IWD: Helpline tasks women on boosting nation building

By Stanley Onyekwere

As the world celebrates this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), Helpline Foundation for the Needy, an Abuja NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) has enjoined women to be proactive and continue contributing to the development of the country.

Recall that Helpline has supported thousands of women in and around the nation’s Federal Capital Territory through skills acquisition and other empowerment programmes in the last twenty years.

The NGO, in a commemoration message signed and issued to the media by the Foundation’s Assistant Communication Officer, Kadiri Cecilia, on behalf of its Founder and President, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, while congratulating all the women, stressed the need for them to help one another in the society.

It reveals that it has, within last year alone, empowered more than 700 women with various skill acquisition programs ranging from snacksmaking, bag-making and soapmaking, among others.

Also, it also discloses that thousands of women and young girls have received trainings in digital skills, as well as artificial intelligence which thus giving them comparative advantage and exposure to digital marketing

Calling on all the women who have benefited from its numerous self-sustaining trainings, financial and equipment assistance, Dr. Ahmadu noted that it was time they began to also empower other needy individuals and contribute their quota to building Nigeria.

The President, while charging the women to remain resolute and determined in their efforts to become better persons, said that the world and Nigeria needed them more than before, especially in the face of the prevailing global and national economic challenges.

She expressed optimism that this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and

Technology for Gender Equality” would go a long way in exposing the women to the market thereby further improving their skills technologically and availing them more opportunities.

In her words: “This year’s celebration is basically to celebrate our women who have benefited from our skill acquisition programs over the years. These programs have no doubt helped in ensuring poverty eradication, as well as financial sustainability and stability, especially among the women.

“Responses through our evaluation so far has proven that our women are doing well and are financially stable and self-reliant compared to when they had not received assistance from us (Helpline)”.

Ahmadu adds: “More than three hundred women have been empowered economically through exhibition and sell of their handmade products.

“Moreso, over two hundred women have benefited from our non-profit revolving loan scheme last one year. All these are parts of efforts put in place to better the lives of women in our society”.

8th of March is designated IWD by the United Nations and it is set aside for the celebration of social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also serves a call to action for accelerating women’s equality through digital innovation and technological equality.