Over 250 women empowered with skills acquisition in Port Harcourt

Still harping on the necessity for women empowerment in Nigeria, Siefani Care for Indigents Foundation (SCIF), an NGO targeted towards empowering the girl child and indigent women with focus on widows and divorcees who are faced with the challenges of survival, has trained over 250 women on different skills in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

The women who participated at the three-day workshop which took place at the Love Channel Event Centre, Ada George, Port Harcourt, were taught bead making, gele bridal, hand-fan, umbrella, wig-making, makeup, soap making, Ankara bag, shoemaking, sandals, small chops and accessories and others.

One of the beneficiaries, Patricia, said the skills garnered during the workshop are enough incentive for her to excel in life both locally and internationally. “I was at the soap-making and Ankara craft session and I have learnt a lot about soap making. I can now use the Ankara to design so many things and with this, I believe I am going higher even beyond the shores of this country.”

Isioma Esene who expressed profound gratitude to the initiator for the boundless opportunities the programme availed her, said: “I was at the gele and bead-making class and I have learnt so much in the series of sessions. I would now make money tying head gears for women who have special occasions to attend.”

In her remark, Executive Director and Founder SCIF, Marian Sotonye Godfrey said: “Growing up, it was my dream as a young woman to start up a foundation that would address the needs and challenges of vulnerable women. Having experienced challenges as a woman, I felt compelled to empower other women because I strongly believe that women need to be financially empowered to survive. So with the NGO, we have been able embark upon many transformational programmes for women and the girl child. SCIF is also into treat girl right advocacy which includes tackling issues like child marriage, education inequality, gender-based violence, self-esteem and other related activisms,” she explained.