NDDC marks Women’s Day in Bayelsa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in collaboration with the Healing Hands Foundation, has marked the 2026 International Women’s Day in Bayelsa State.

The event, with the theme: “Rights, justice, action for all women and girls”, held at Ayason Event Place, Osiri Road, Ekeki, Yenagoa.

Declaring the event open, the Director of Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs. Amuna Fedelia Emoni, described women as courageous resource managers who keep languages alive. She urged men to support women.

Keynote speaker, Chief Solomon Edebiri, who is the Board Secretary of Niger Delta Chambers of Industry, Mines and Agriculture, spoke on: “Business growth and sustainability”.

Edebiri said women deserve their rights and justice but must be prepared to claim them.

He advised aspiring entrepreneurs to prepare business proposals, understand regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements and know their target market.

He identified finance, law, strong branding and talent retention as key factors for growth and sustainability, while listing poor financial management, weak customer retention, improper accounting and lack of strategy as major causes of business failure.

Global President of Rebuild Nigeria 360 Degree, Abuja, Model Jeffrey Abidoye, who spoke on: “Beyond being a girl and woman”, cautioned young girls against get-rich-quick syndrome.

He urged them to acquire skills, have faith in God, be truthful and disciplined, and imbibe good moral values.

Abidoye described women and girls as potential home managers and the backbone of family heritage, calling on men to respect their rights.

He urged parents to mentor the girl-child and prayed for the rescue and restoration of the Niger Delta from bloodshed, criminality and treasury looting.

In his presentation on: “Export procedure and documentation”, Cletus Ose said formal export requires proper documentation, product registration and certification.

He advised women interested in export business to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to avoid disruptions.

Another speaker, Michael Ibanga, discussed the stages of product packaging, materials, design and preservation techniques.

Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Sylvia Adenuyi, said the council’s vision is to make the world a marketplace for non-oil products and to support women in export business.

She directed interested persons to the council’s desk officer, Mr. Cletus, at the Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa and listed exportable products, including cocoa beans, urea, cashew nut, copper, rubber and ogbono.

Adenuyi urged exporters to register with the council and obtain global certification to avoid product rejection.

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In her goodwill message, an entrepreneur, Madam Dogood Arule, identified compassion, courage and integrity as keys to successful business.

She advised women to acquire skills that can sustain them if a business fails.

An Assistant Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Bayelsa Area Office, Mr. Ebizimo Sokari, urged business owners to register their companies with CAC as a precondition for NAFDAC product certification.

In a vote of thanks, the Healing Hands Foundation said its aim is to empower and uplift women in the Niger Delta through special care and impactful development.

The foundation thanked the Managing Director of NDDC, Chief (Dr.) Samuel Ogbuku, for partnering with it to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day.