The Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare (MWASW), Hon. (Mrs) Inibehe Silas Etukudo, on Monday hosted a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to deliberate on the implementation of a women-focused entrepreneurship training initiative in Akwa Ibom State.

The visit was aimed at discussing modalities for the training of Community Development Officers and Social Welfare Officers, who will be equipped to deliver business training packages to women-led micro and small-scale enterprises within their communities.

The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with relevant organisations, including the 50 Million Women Speak platform.

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs delegation was led by the Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister on Women Economic Empowerment, Hajia Amina Danjuma, while the JICA team was headed by Emi Ogata.

Providing an overview of the project, the Director of Economic Services at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Musa Aliyu Musa, disclosed that Akwa Ibom State is one of only two states selected as pilot states for the programme.

He explained that the project is designed to strengthen the capacity of frontline officers to support women entrepreneurs at the grassroots level. He further requested that the Honourable Commissioner nominate a representative to participate in the forthcoming Training of Trainers scheduled to hold in Abuja.

In her presentation, JICA team lead Emi Ogata outlined the various phases of the project, including timelines and targeted beneficiaries. She expressed confidence in the successful implementation of the programme in Akwa Ibom State and shared the project’s work plan with stakeholders.

Responding, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon.(Mrs) Inibehe Silas Etukudo welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Government and the ministry, assuring them of the ministry’s readiness to partner with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and JICA to ensure the success of the project.

She noted that the initiative aligns with the ARISE Agenda of the Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno.

The Commissioner also emphasized that beneficiaries of the programme would be drawn primarily from rural communities to ensure that the project achieves its objectives of empowering women at the grassroots and promoting inclusive economic growth.

Information/PR Unit

MWASW