Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the special day for
the celebration of Rivers Women as part of the Golden Jubilee
Celebration of Rivers State was well-deserved.
Speaking to newsmen at the Obi-Wali Conference Centre in Port
Harcourt, during the Special Women Day Celebration, State commissioner
for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, said the
event was an opportunity to celebrate the Rivers Women for their
enduring spirit and resilience from the civil war experience till
date.
He said Rivers Women have over the years demonstrated hard work and
professional excellence in various fields of endeavour, and assured
that the Rivers State Government was committed to supporting women in
the State.
According to the Commissioner, “70% of the 35,000 beneficiaries of the
enterprise loan given by the Rivers State Government in 2016 were
women, and record shows that the incentives were judiciously used by
the beneficiaries.”
He said the Governor had noted the success recorded in the application
of the loan by the beneficiaries to create jobs and expand small and
medium scale enterprise development in the State, adding that “more
empowerment programmes will be unveiled in the State for women to
enhance sustainability in food sufficiency and economic self support”.
On the participation of women in politics, the Commissioner said
Rivers women were free to pursue their ambitions in the political
space, adding that the State stood to gain from the unique
perspectives and contributions that women could bring to the process
of governance.
Tam-George who described Governor Wike as a gender-friendly Governor,
said the Rivers State Governor did not give political appointment to
women on patronage, but on merit and excellence, which he described as
the hallmarks of the Wike administration.
Highlights of the event were special presentation by women from the 23
Local Governments of Rivers State, and a talk session by eminent
women.