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| A cross-section of the women at the event |
By Nathaniel
Obruthe with Agency report
Obruthe with Agency report
The Shell Petroleum
and Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture has urged women in the Niger Delta
to assist in promoting peace in their communities.
and Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture has urged women in the Niger Delta
to assist in promoting peace in their communities.
The SPDC General
Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli gave the advice on Friday at
the “2018 SPDC JV Engagement with Swamp West Hub Communities held in
Warri, Delta.
The theme of the
event was ” Women Focus Open Forum: “The role of women in peace
building”.
event was ” Women Focus Open Forum: “The role of women in peace
building”.
Weil who was
represented by Mrs Alice Ajeh, SPDC’s Stakeholders Relations Manager said the
clamoring for the return of companies particularly Shell to Warri could only be
achievable if there is peace in the area.
represented by Mrs Alice Ajeh, SPDC’s Stakeholders Relations Manager said the
clamoring for the return of companies particularly Shell to Warri could only be
achievable if there is peace in the area.
“The women
really need to work on peace building so that the companies will have the fate
to come and invest more in the region.
really need to work on peace building so that the companies will have the fate
to come and invest more in the region.
“A lot of
people have been clamoring for companies to come back, and that can only
happened if there is peace in the region and women can play a part.
people have been clamoring for companies to come back, and that can only
happened if there is peace in the region and women can play a part.
” We
recognised that women must play a part for any development we have for the
region hence 30 per cent provision is made for the women in our Global
Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with our host communities,” he said.
recognised that women must play a part for any development we have for the
region hence 30 per cent provision is made for the women in our Global
Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with our host communities,” he said.
Weli said SPDC
could only effectively meet with their demands only if the company operates at
maximum production adding that could only be achievable in a peaceful
environment.
could only effectively meet with their demands only if the company operates at
maximum production adding that could only be achievable in a peaceful
environment.
Also, Mrs Shola
Daibo, member representing Warri Constituency (One) at the Delta House of
Assembly urged the various ethnic nationalities in Delta to unit in order to
attract meaningful development to the state.
Daibo, member representing Warri Constituency (One) at the Delta House of
Assembly urged the various ethnic nationalities in Delta to unit in order to
attract meaningful development to the state.
“We should not
fight one and another, we should embrace peace and also advise our children and
husbands to shun illegal oil bunkering,” she advised.
fight one and another, we should embrace peace and also advise our children and
husbands to shun illegal oil bunkering,” she advised.
One of the
participants, Mrs Lilian Igho said women have a big role to play in the peace
building process in the Niger Delta and called for their empowerment.
participants, Mrs Lilian Igho said women have a big role to play in the peace
building process in the Niger Delta and called for their empowerment.
“If the women
are empowered, they will be able to guide their children in the proper manner.
are empowered, they will be able to guide their children in the proper manner.
” From what we
have heard today, Shell gives 30 per cent allocation to women but at the end of
the day, we will not see anything, that is the problems we are facing, ”
she said.
have heard today, Shell gives 30 per cent allocation to women but at the end of
the day, we will not see anything, that is the problems we are facing, ”
she said.
Also, Mrs Florence
Okorodudu, Women Leader in Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local
Government Area of Delta said that women would continue to contribute their
quotas towards peace building in the region.
Okorodudu, Women Leader in Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local
Government Area of Delta said that women would continue to contribute their
quotas towards peace building in the region.
“The oil
companies should also try and provide jobs for the youth so that they do not
indulged in pipelines vandalism and other illegalities,” she said.
companies should also try and provide jobs for the youth so that they do not
indulged in pipelines vandalism and other illegalities,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Richard
Ziware, Community Development Board (CDB), Chairman in Egbema GMoU cluster
while rendering his stewardship said N69 million has been set aside to empower
the women in the cluster.
Ziware, Community Development Board (CDB), Chairman in Egbema GMoU cluster
while rendering his stewardship said N69 million has been set aside to empower
the women in the cluster.
“We have seven
communities in our cluster, we have spent a total of N522.3 million on projects
since the GMoU commenced in 2013.
communities in our cluster, we have spent a total of N522.3 million on projects
since the GMoU commenced in 2013.
“We also have
267.7 million in our account while N69 million has been set aside for women
development and the exercise will start in July,” he said.
267.7 million in our account while N69 million has been set aside for women
development and the exercise will start in July,” he said.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women were mostly from the Ijaw Itsekiri and
Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women were mostly from the Ijaw Itsekiri and
Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
Free medical
services was offered to the participants.
services was offered to the participants.
