Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro PhD, has acknowledged the crucial role of Niger Delta women in fostering peace and stability in the region.
Speaking on Wednesday at a stakeholder meeting in Warri, Otuaro recalled that women were the first casualties in the heat of the Niger Delta struggle, yet were initially overlooked when the PAP programme kick-started.
He, therefore, promised full inclusivity and empowerment of the women folk under his leadership to foster peace and development in the region.
While reiterating his accomplishments so far, Otuaro disclosed that no fewer than 780 women have been enrolled in schools and 1,389 women have received various trainings.
According to him, the Amnesty Programme, during his ongoing tenure, has economically empowered no fewer than 1,000 women.
He affirmed that focus on the women folk was necessary owing to their vital role in building a robust home and community, and fostering peace and stability.
“We are happy to be seated with our great mothers who travelled down to Warri to make their contributions to the advancement of the PAP programme.
“My mothers, our mothers you were the first casualties in the Niger Delta struggle.
“In the PAP programme women have a lot to benefit, of course when the programme started women were not considered. But under my leadership as a PAP administrator, women will be carried along.
“Though, we have done little for the women. About 780 women have been sent to school. 1,389 women trained and about 1000 women have been empowered.
“I have said it earlier you are critical to peace and stability in the Niger Delta region, “because when there is peace you are the first casualties, at struggle, you are the first casualties.
“I have come to brainstorm with you to make your home robust. The women should be empowered so they can contribute meaningfully to the home.
“Mothers! You have a vital role to play in the peaceful building process in the Niger Delta region, effects that can’t be overemphasised.
“However, the scholarship programme is already ongoing, vocational and post training programmes will soon follow, I want our mothers to make a meaningful contribution to it as regards fostering peace and development in the region,” he noted.
Meanwhile, a Niger Delta activist, Ms Ankio Briggs, while addressing her fellow women and the PAP administrator, said the Otuaro-led administration had done well by engaging mothers in such a critical stakeholders meeting.
“We have been on this for very long. From Camp 5 to Amnesty era and Avengers. I have always stood before our people because they’re on a cause.
“I want to remark that some of the women who make the critical sacrifices were not incorporated into the presidential Amnesty Programme.
“Many of our sons who bore the arms died but others survived; the PAP administrator and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo were among the survivors and it was a rare divine privilege.
“I want to reiterate that despite the Niger Delta demonstrating sportsmanship by being peaceful, we are still treated with kid gloves and our plights are being relegated to the background.
“We accepted the amnesty programme not because we are lazy, not because we’re being exhausted. But we accepted the PAP programme to strengthen peace in the country.
“But I want to reinvigorate that the government of Nigeria should know that the peace process can’t be completed without women,” she averred.
Also speaking on behalf of the women, a Gbaramatu Kingdom chief and women leader, Chief Vero Tamigbe, expressed gratitude to Otuaro for the timely engagement of women and considering them as critical stakeholders in engendering peace in the Niger Delta.
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