• Dickson, Diri, Isenah, others pledge support
By Amgbare Prince, Yenagoa
The Izon Ladies Association Nigeria has launched the construction of its national secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state with a projected amount of three billion naira only (N3,000,000,000.00).
Governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri, noted that a united front was better than individual efforts and thanked the women for advocating justice, peace and equity.
He promised the association his administration’s determination to carry women along in terms of appointments and empowerment, and respect the rights of women at all the time
The governor, represented on the occasion by the secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Mr. Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, said what was today known as Ijaw Ladies Association started 1977 in Lagos for a meeting point for Ijaws to advocate for women inclusion and advance their interest in different field of human endeavour.
In his opening remarks, the President and Chief Executive Officer of TeleAfrica Communications Ltd, High Chief Architect Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, described ILA as a rallying point for Izon Ladies to project, protect and advance the interest of Izon women in the country.
He advised members of the association to uphold the dignity of the Ijaw culture and mentor younger Izon women to live a meaningful life.
High Chief Architect Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, who was the chairman of the occasion, congratulates the founding members for nurturing the association for over 40 years and urged traditional, political leaders and industrialists in the country to support ILA to realize its set goals.
First Lady of Bayelsa State, Ambassador, Dr. Gloria Ebibomo Diri hinted that culture is a bridge that take us back to our root and to the future, stressing that people without culture is a lost generation.
She stated that the activities of ILA fall in-line with the Foundation main objective which is to empower the girl child with requisite skills to become self-reliant and employers of labour and commended the association for the bold initiative to launch the Secretariat Complex project in the state.
The Bayelsa First Lady was represented by the Technical Adviser to Governor Diri on Diaspora Matters, Dr.Rosalyn Dressman, she also donate undisclosed amount to the Association and promised to work to actualize their dream in the state.
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President, Izon National Congress, INC delivering his lecture titled “Cultural Revival: Imperative for Unity and Sustainable Development for Ijaw Nation” described culture as the way of life of the people while advised the people protect, preserve and prevent the culture from going into extinction by inculcate the culture of speaking the dialect through songs, name giving and folktales to the children.
Prof. Okaba who is the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University Otuoke, charged traditional rulers to speak truth to political leaders and call them to order if found derailing from the ideals of the Izon founding fathers.
The erudite Professor advised Ijaws not to write frivolous petitions to stall ongoing Federal projects in Ijaw land as evident by the litigations among Ogbia communities in respect of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre.
He urged the parties involved to withdraw the case for the overall interest of the Ijaw Nation.
In her welcome address, the National President of the Association, Princess Barr. (Mrs) Laura Church-Ere Komonibo took the audience to the brain lean of the Association which started in Lagos in 1977 which spread across the Niger Delta region and beyond.
Speaking on the motto of the Association, Princess Church-ere said the aim is to promote Izon culture, healthy living and well-being of women and children empowerment, girl child education, and collaborate with other Izon social cultural groups to promote peaceful coexistence and work with leaders whenever the need arises.
She informed that membership of the Association is indiscriminate to all Izon daughters and wives from the ages of 25 and above, and enlist some of the activities of the association which include provision of books, uniforms to needy Primary School children, award of scholarship to young girls from Secondary Schools to University level culminating in a yearly momentary award of N200,000 to the best graduating Izon female students at the state-owned university, the NDU, merit award to young girls and women who excelled in their professions.
She noted the Association also engages in advocacy sensitization against teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, cultism, rape, gender violence and presentation of relief materials to families affected by the perennial flood.
The National President thanked Governor Douye Diri for the various empowerment programmes targeted at women, youths and also lauded the first lady for her philanthropic gestures to Bayelsa women and the girl child.
The Association also thanked the former governor of the state and member representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District of the National Assembly, Sen. Henry Seriake Dickson for the donation of ten plots of land and the sponsorship of the 40th Anniversary.
She commended the former first Lady, Dr. Rachael Dickson, High Chief Architect Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, the Chief Launcher, Engr.Gesi Asamaowei, Royal Father of the Day, HRM Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and the Ibedaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, and all the traditional rulers, political leaders for their donations and supports.
Engr. Gesi Asamaowei who was the Chief Launcher donates a colossal sum of N20million for the project.
He was represented by the former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and member representing Kolokuma/Opokumma constituency IV, RT. Hon. Tonye Emanuel Isenah at the occasion also donated N2.5 Million.
A brief history of ILA was presented by the Founder, Rev. (Mrs.) Jane Alek who stated that the vision that led to the formation of the Association was born out of the need to give the Izon women a platform to be heard by all and sundry particularly after the civil war to share experiences gathered, harness the experience for the benefits of the people and to promote the culture and common interest of people to foster peaceful co-existence in the committee of tribes in Nigeria.
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