The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Nigeria, has sought collaboration with the Cross River State Government on a Rural Women's Economic Empowerment Programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural women.
The Team Lead of the delegation, Mrs Temitope Wealth-Ekanem, accompanied by Mr Anthony Omonigho, disclosed this when they paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, on Tuesday. She said the initiative is being implemented in partnership with MTN Foundation Nigeria.
According to her, the six-month pilot programme, known as the Y'elloPreneur Rural Women's Economic Empowerment Programme (RWEEP), is designed to strengthen the productivity, income and resilience of 100 rural women in the state, with a focus on cassava and seafood processing in Obubra Local Government Area.
She noted that the programme will integrate climate-smart agriculture, improved processing technologies, digital and financial inclusion, market access and cooperative strengthening, while also addressing the burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women.
The delegation also discussed opportunities for sustained collaboration with relevant stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs, to ensure successful implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, expressed gratitude to UN Women and MTN Foundation Nigeria for their commitment to improving the economic wellbeing of rural women in Cross River State.
She described the initiative as a welcome development that will create opportunities for women to improve productivity, increase income and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Edema assured the delegation of the Ministry's readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders towards successful implementation and encouraged sustained efforts to empower women across the State.
By Eme Edet
