…Urges Focus on Vulnerable Women and Export Potential
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the Anambra State Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (AN-NFWP-SU), describing the initiative as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive governance.
Dr. Mefor gave the commendation on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the project, led by the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Hope Okoye, at his office in the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
He noted that women currently occupy strategic positions in the Soludo administration, including the offices of the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service, demonstrating the government’s commitment to gender inclusion.
According to the Commissioner, the governor has consistently encouraged the organization of women into interest groups and the mainstreaming of their contributions to the development of Anambra State.
“The governor has provided the enabling environment for the project, and if it succeeds, he will be encouraged to inject more funds to expand its scope and reach,” Mefor said.
He also endorsed the project’s savings and financial inclusion model, citing studies that show women are often prudent financial managers and are less prone to corruption.
“Women make excellent managers, are less prone to corruption, and are more committed. I am confident that both the loans and government investments in the programme will be safeguarded,” he added.
The Commissioner advised the project team to place greater emphasis on agriculture and export-oriented ventures while ensuring that widows and other vulnerable women are deliberately included in the programme to prevent political interference in beneficiary selection.
He further assured the team of the Ministry’s support through sustained public enlightenment campaigns on ABS Radio and Television, as well as other government communication platforms. He, however, requested a formal proposal outlining areas where collaboration would be required.
In her speech, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Hope Okoye, explained that the programme is an initiative of the Soludo administration aimed at strengthening the economic empowerment of women, with technical support from the World Bank through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
She disclosed that implementation would commence in three pilot local government areas including Aguata, Njikoka, and Ogbaru, with a target of reaching no fewer than 150,000 women beneficiaries.
Okoye noted that the project is multi-sectoral, involving the ministries of Finance, Information, Agriculture, Women Affairs, and other key stakeholders, and appealed to the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation to support its public awareness campaign for the benefit of women across the state.
