The Woman Empowerment Coalition, WEC, has hailed the empowerment initiative of the Kogi State First Lady, Rashida Bello, as “a timely intervention to save women and youths from poverty and deprivation.”

Speaking in Lokoja, the spokesperson of the group, Deaconess Magareth Adebayo conveyed the group’s appreciation to Mrs Bello for considering the plight of women and youths a priority agenda of her initiative.

Rashida-Bello

According to Adebayo, it is imperative for non-governmental organizations to key into the New Direction agenda of the present administration to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the state.

Her words: “It is a thing worthy of commendation for the First Lady, Mrs Rashida Bello to leave her comfort zone to attend to the needs of rural community women across the state.

“The women of Kogi State are solidly behind her initiative which has started on a good note by addressing the healthcare needs of women in the state. By providing free notebooks for pupils, the First Lady has shown her desire to support her husband in making education affordable for Kogi children.

“As a group that is committed to empowerment, we wish to identify with Mrs Rashida Bello who has taken it upon herself to use her position to banish poverty from our societies”.

The group condemned the “politically instigated incident at Ekirin Adde last week, as “unfortunate, uncalled for and at complete variance with the yearnings of the people of the community for development.

“The wonderful reception accorded the First Lady at Ekinrin Adde shows the people of the community do not subscribe to the subversive politics of people who are bent on stopping good things from coming to their community. We hail the good heart of the First Lady and we wish to assure you of our continued support.”