AKSG To Partner dRPC, Other Development Agencies For Improved Livelihood Of Citizens

By Solomon Umanah
UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has expressed its commitment in partnering development Research and Project Center (dRPC) and other development agencies with a view to ensuring improved livelihoods of citizens, particularly the women.
The commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan who stated this, recently, during the inauguration of a13-member committee for the domestication of the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, in Uyo, said the current administration under the leadership of Governor Umo Eno was poised at lifting the standard of living of the Akwa Ibom people, particularly the women.
Adiakpan, who lauded the management of development Research and Project Center (dRPC) for their commitment towards the improvement of livelihoods of Akwa Ibom women, reiterated the determination of the state government to continue its partnership with dRPC and other development agencies to ensure the actualisation of their programmes in the state.
She pointed out that the inauguration of the 13-member committee was part of the process for the formulation of policy framework for Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) in the state, as well as provide necessary monitoring and evaluation framework that will accelerate the tracking of all the women empowerment programmes that had been executed in the state with a view to assessing the impacts of the programmes thereby providing guidelines for future engagement of such programmes.
While stressing the need for the consideration of the peculiarity of the Akwa Ibom women’s situation and expectations, Adiakpan urged the participants to work out indices that will enable the state to secure an acceptable policy framework for WEE, “taking cognisance of the bottom-up approach.”
She lauded Governor Umo Eno for ensuring inclusive governance and empowerment, particularly targeted toward the women in the state, maintaining that, “there cannot be any political engagement for the women if they are not economically empowered.”
The women affairs boss, however, congratulated the Committee members on their successful inauguration, expressing optimism that they will deliver on the assigned mandate.
Responding on behalf of other committee members, the committee chairman and director, Legal Drafting in the State Ministry of Justice, Barr Ime Obot, commended Adiakpan for setting up the committee and pledged her committee’s readiness to deliver on their assigned responsibilities.
The committee has Barr Ini Ememobong as co-chairman; Barr Nkechi Udo, secretary; Barr OfonimeEtuknwa, member, among others.