By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Participants at a one-day review and reflection meeting on the Empowering Voices project in Benue State have been assured of continued mentorship and support to strengthen their growth and sustainability.
The meeting, organized by Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI, with support from the French Embassy Fund, FEF-OSC, brought together beneficiaries of a one-year programme focused on promoting human rights, access to healthcare, knowledge of the VAPP Act, and skills acquisition for vulnerable girls.
Speaking at the event, CWIDI’s Director of Programmes, Mrs Bridget Okeke, represented by Senior Project Officer Mrs Becky Gbihi said the meeting provided an opportunity to assess the impact of the project and document lessons for improved implementation.
She noted that beneficiaries were supported with start-up kits to launch small businesses and encouraged to apply the knowledge gained.
Okeke emphasized that the review was to evaluate progress, understand challenges, and ensure participants were not abandoned after training.
She urged beneficiaries to remain diligent, save consistently, and manage their businesses responsibly to achieve economic independence.
Participants, who engaged in group discussions, shared success stories and challenges, stating that the skills and human rights training had boosted their confidence, improved their social standing, and enhanced their ability to report gender-based violence and access healthcare services.
They appealed for expanded support, particularly assistance with securing shop spaces, and called for the programme to be extended to reach more vulnerable girls in the state.
