DESOPADEC trains women ahead of empowerment programme in Delta ~ Truth Reporters

By Ovedhe Jerry Hezekiah

The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has organized a two day empowerment training for women from the six ethnic nationalities of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika, that make up the mandate areas of the Commission.

The Women empowerment programme, which kicked off yesterday at the Delta State College of Education, Warri, with the theme, "Converting My Passion Into My Source Of Income," was organized in line with the Commission’s human capital development mantra and as a reflection of his excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s desire to empower women in the state and is billed to end today Wednesday.

Welcoming the participants, the Managing Director/ CEO of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh said the administration would pursue human capital development, starting with the women and stated that the programme was designed to get a data base record of women in the state that has interest and passion for work, adding that from the collation of the record of the women, the Commission would be able to identify what each woman was good at doing and enable them to convert their passion to income.

“The first phase of this programme is to collate the data base of each of the participants today in order to know what each of them is capable of doing which will lead us to the second phase where the Commission will empower them to realize their passion,” he emphasized.

He therefore, admonished the instructors to train the women very well because micro-credit scheme would commence from this set of women being trained now.

In attendance at the ceremony were the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Obukowho John Nani; Executive Director, Social Services, Barr. Leonard Anoka and Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Amb. Shedrack Lucky Agediga.

Other Members of the Board present include, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, Hon Griftson Omatsuli, Okakuro Kent Okiemute and Hon Joyce Overah. In the Management team of DESOPADEC were the Head, Social Services department, Chief Ochuko Onose and the Head, Media and Public Affairs Unit, Mrs Chinenye Ezonfade.