Women, youths empowerment paramount to peace in Nigeria ― DEPOWA

PRESIDENT, Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin, has stressed the need for youth and women empowerment in the nation’s quest for peace and progress.

Olonisakin made the remarks on Monday at the opening ceremony of a two-week training programme entitled ‘Empowered for life’ organised for widows and the less privileged youth in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Speaking at the Letmauk Army Barracks venue of the programme on Monday, the DEPOWA president stated that all hands must be on deck to touch the vulnerable groups in the society because there were vast grounds to cover.

The Guest Lecturer, a Consultant Psychiatrist, from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Yetunde Adeniyi, who spoke on ‘Drugs of abuse and the associated hazards, lamented the prevalence of hard drugs among the Nigerian youths as a result of joblessness.’

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Adeniyi said: “Usually, they end up spending money that ought to be spent on useful things on buying the hard substances that they use. They get involved in police and other legal issues and they get arrested. The solution is to empower our youth and expose them to productive lifestyles.”

Brigadier General OO Soleye, who represented the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Okudili Azinta, expressed delight at the initiative of the wives of the Defence and Police Officers in the country and urged the 200 participants to take good advantage of the programme in their interest as well as the interest of their various families.

The participants are being trained in bead stringing, soap making, bathing, sewing and tie and dye.