Group wants Enugu Govt. to address issues of social, gender inequality

The South East Coordinator of Voices for Change (V4C), Mrs Koby Ikpo, has urged Enugu State Government to address issues of social and gender inequality in the state. Ikpo made the call on Friday in Enugu during a Gender Equality Movement (GEM) review meeting with the theme: ‘Ensuring Sustainable Development through Gender Inclusion in Leadership’.

Newsmen report the GEM is a four-year programme initiated by V4C, funded by DFID and implemented by the Women Aide Collective (WACOL) in Enugu State. Ikpo said that the call became necessary following the imminent end of the programme and exit of the sponsors. “We are exiting because we have come to the end of the programme. “The project can still be extended because we will not say that we have achieved all we set out to do,’’ she said. She said that as they waited for further intervention, it was imperative for the government to take up the challenge of addressing issues of inequality to ensure good governance. Ikpo encouraged the committee that had taken over the reins of GEM not to be deterred by the exit of the sponsors but to device programmes that would further advance their course. Also speaking, the WACOL Project Officer for V4C, Mrs Ijeoma Uzoeshi commended the sponsors of the project for their steadfastness throughout the time it lasted. Uzoeshi said that though the funding partners had exited but we need to put up a platform that would further advance the project and consolidate on the gains. “Part of the project had been to create a platform to push issues of gender inequality in the state,” she said. She said that with the inauguration of the GEM executive committee, WACOL had ceased to oversee the project and members of the group taken ownership of the programme. “I assure you that all the support you need to succeed will be given to you, so, you need not be afraid. It is something we can do believing that better sponsors will come to support you,’’ she said. Uzoechi called on women within the group to show more dedication in the quest to curb inequality in every aspect of the society, adding that women were more vulnerable. Responding, the President of the GEM, State Executive, Mrs Love Odumodu, said that they were encouraged by the support they had received since the inception of the project. Odumodu said that though it was something they would have been afraid to do but the experience and support they had received over the years would suffice. She appealed to the management of WACOL to continue to support the project in spite of the exit of the sponsors. Highlights of the meeting were the election of the GEM’s state executive members and official handover of the project to them. The project would officially end on July 20.