WUEE Empowers TBAs, Indigent Students, Vulnerable Women

Women United For Economic Empowerment (WUEE) – an Akwa Ibom- based non-governmental organization has empowered 33 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), 16 secondary school students, 20 students in tertiary institutions, and 15 vulnerable women in the state.

 At the empowerment programme held on Friday at Sun Centre, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, WUEE Akwa Ibom State supported by WUEE United States of America, USA office, presented the 33 TBAs with covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s), indigent students with tuition fees, students in tertiary institutions with tablet phones for digital education/ #5,000 for data, while the 15 vulnerable women went home with food items and toiletries.

The four categories of beneficiaries at the empowerment programme were drawn from communities in 12 local government areas of the state, namely; Etinan, Okobo, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Onna, Eket, Nsit Ubium, Ikono, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ikot Ekpene, Oron and Uyo local government areas.

In her open address at the event, the executive director, Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE), Mrs Iniobong Frank, said, “Let me put it clear that empowerment is vital for a developing country like Nigeria.

According to the World Bank, empowerment is the process of financing the abilities of individuals or groups to create alternatives and convert those options into desired actions and incomes.

 Today, Women United for Economic Empowerment is empowering women, traditional birth attendants, and students in Akwa Ibom State in commemoration of the International Women’s Day to enhance the abilities of our women, girls, traditional birth attendants and students.

 The empowerment of women and students eradicates poverty line, illiteracy, women economic dependency rate, crimes and other social vices in the society. Empowerment does not only concern employment but also improving quality of life, education, healthcare, as well as giving them the confidence of facing issues”.

 She made known that WUEE was not in competition with any other organization or government but only carrying out its service provision to humanity in accordance to what is written in Mathew 25:40 which says, “Whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do unto me”, stressing the need for people to be their brothers and sisters keepers.

 Frank, who is also the country director, WUEE, encouraged beneficiaries to be resolute and should not give up on themselves, taking into consideration that when there is life, there is hope.

 She urged the benefitting students to be useful to themselves and the society, bearing in mind that their future lies in their hands, adding that the tablet phones so presented them were for academic purposes and not for taking of selfies.

 Frank thanked the President of Women United for Economic Empowerment, WUEE, Mrs Aniema Udofa for her financial support towards the success of the programme.

 The representative of FEYREP, Mrs Idorenyin Ekanem appreciated WUEE for their gesture, urging students to shun all vices of immorality, rape, and cultism as it does not portray them well in the society, saying, “If you don’t start building your future, nobody will build it for you.”

 She encouraged them to be determined in life, as success has so many friends, while failure is an orphan”, urging them to make good use of the item given them.

 Dr. Asukwo Uya of the University of Uyo, who also thanked WUEE for their gesture, advised students to take the opportunity offered by WUEE seriously by making good use of the item given them, as their choice and selection for the empowerment was pure grace.

 He told them that whatever they do, they do it first to themselves, and that if they derail, they are doing themselves, urging them to put in their best in their academics and should avoid distraction in order to come out with 2.1 or 2.2.

Also, Dr. Etim Frank, still of the University of Uyo, appreciated TBAs for their sacrifices and commitment to their responsibility of attending to pregnant women in rural areas who most times, do not have access to the government hospitals, urging them to always be cautious while rendering their services, taking into consideration the various safety measures that would be of benefit to them and their clients.

 Frank said their numerous sacrifices were rewarded by WUEE at the event through donation of assorted personal protective equipment, expressing hope that, God will use those items to perform more through them.

 Earlier, the finance officer of WUEE, Mrs. Emem Ekong while giving a brief history of the organization said WUEE is a non-profit making organization established on March 20, 2002 by Mrs Aniema Udofa based in the United States of America.

Ekong made known that in the past 19 years Udofa has consistently empowered women, youths, students and the vulnerable persons, touching their various needs.

According to her, Udofa’s dream was to see a poverty- free society and where women are given their rightful place in the society.

Ekong who mentioned the core values of WUEE as, love, team spirit, respect for one another, transparency/ accountability, gender equality, creativity/ leadership, said the organization’s activities centre on health which covers HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Sexual/ reproductive health rights; women\ girls rights, economic empowerment/ innovative livelihood, good governance and education which covers scholarship scheme.

Responding on behalf of the  beneficiaries, a Traditional Birth Attendants from Ikot Ekpaw in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Esther Ebong thanked God for what he has used  WUEE to do for women since 2002, praying God to bless them bountifully.

High point of the event was a prayer session dedicated for beneficiaries to pray for the donor, Mrs Aniema Udofa in the United States of America.