The Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF), with support from ActionAid Nigeria, has reiterated the need to protect women’s rights and strengthen their economic empowerment as a pathway to sustainable community development.

The call was made on Tuesday during the commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day with communities in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State under the Local Rights Programme (LRP).

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of WACHEF’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Garba Danjuma, and the Executive Director, Mrs. Beden Mergu Barnabas, the Programme Manager of the project, Wisdom Christopher, emphasised that women’s rights remain fundamental human rights that must be protected.
“Women’s rights are fundamental rights that must be taken seriously. When women are empowered and protected, they gain the confidence to speak for themselves and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities,” she said.

Christopher explained that the Local Rights Programme has significantly strengthened the capacity of women in the benefiting communities. According to her, the project is currently being implemented in four communities in Gashaka Local Government Area and eight communities in Yorro Local Government Area of the state.

She further disclosed that through the programme’s savings initiative, women in the 12 participating communities have collectively saved over ₦30 million.
“Through this project, women have been trained and supported to save collectively every month. Today, the women across the 12 communities have saved over ₦30 million, which many of them now use to support their families and their children’s education,” she said.

Other members of the project team encouraged women to continue to demand and defend their rights, stressing that they should not remain silent in the face of injustice.

They noted that rights and freedom become meaningful when individuals have the courage to act, adding that demanding fairness and equal opportunities should not be perceived as rebellion or disrespect but as a legitimate exercise of their rights.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Inclusive Forum for Accountable Society (IFAS), Wilfred Jimon, urged women to draw inspiration from notable female figures who have excelled in different fields and strive to achieve greater heights.

Also speaking, the Taraba State Commissioner for Heritage and Ecotourism, Titus Nagombe, commended WACHEF and ActionAid Nigeria for the initiative, noting that their interventions are making a positive impact on communities in Gashaka.

Similarly, the Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Area, Umar Yusuf, praised the organisations for their developmental contributions to the area, particularly in promoting women’s economic empowerment and supporting education.