Gender Activists Celebrate Outstanding Nigerian Women

The Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence (AWAGBV), a coalition of non-governmental organizations in Bayelsa State has celebrated outstanding and influential women who have empowered other women in society.
The celebration tagged Cheers to Her: A Celebration of Women Empowering Women, featured women across the globe celebrating themselves as they deepened the discourse on the role of women in national development and the need for women to build their capacity and acquire skills that will empower them financially.
AWAGBV is made up of 18 formidable women leading other women in their various organizations namely: FOMWAN, Bayelsa State chapter, Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (South-South), Association of Traditional Community Birth Attendants, Bayelsa State Chapter, End Violence Against Women and Children.
Others are Association of Professional Women Engineers, Dise Ogbise Foundation (Do Foundation), King Okpoitari Diongoli Foundation, KIOSATE Boy Child Foundation, St Yves Children’s Foundation and Karinate Education and Empowerment Foundation.
Other members of the coalition are Extreme with PSK, Girl Child & Less Privileged Development Initiative, Thriving Hopes Development, Friday Konyefa Foundation, Deborah Ebisinde Filatei Women and Children Developmental Foundation, Excellent Peoples Ogbo, National Committee on Gender and Sexuality and Girls Empowered for Change Foundation.
Dise Goddy-Harry, first (1st) Vice President of AWAGBV told journalists that the event was to celebrate women, who have done well and give back to women.
According to her, the event also celebrated ‘He-for-Shes’, to celebrate men who have made outstanding contributions to women.
Mrs Leticia Amgbare, an awardee at the event on the other hand advised women to keep supporting themselves.
Dame Esther Boro, the head of the Amnesty Office in Bayelsa also pledged to keep supporting the cause of women.
Hon Ingo Iwowari Gold on the other hand, emphasized that it is time to get more women as leaders in all spheres of life, therefore called for women to aspire for leadership positions.
Dr Foluke Dada-Lawson, one of the award recipients from Lagos State said the time was now rife for the empowerment of women.
Dada-Lawson, who chairs Lawyers in Academia Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA noted that it had become necessary for women to do things that will empower women and deepen their political engagement.
Representatives of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre and Advancing Women in Business also called for more Nigerian women to take advantage of activities and engagements organised solely for them saying that this year’s theme validates the role of women in national development.
Awards were presented to deserving women and men. There was poetry presentation by Theresa Tobuyei and the empowerment of 200 vulnerable women with cash gifts and starter packs and presentations on the contents of the Land Use Act and Renewable Energy.
The training was facilitated by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, Advancing Women in Business, (ADWIB) and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Lands and Survey.
The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Bayelsa State, Mr. Perepuighe Biewari, commended the women groups for organizing the event more especially in the area of capacity building and thanked the group for the award presented to him.