•Empowers 50 women in Akwa Ibom
By Ernest Udoh-Robert
A Non-governmental Organization, NGO, Community Partners for Development (CPD) has carried out environmental awareness campaign in riverine communities of Mbo and Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the sensitization campaign and graduation ceremony, the Executive Director, CPD, Mrs Emem Charis said that, Community Partners Development core mandate is on environmental awareness, which is not just about knowledge, but about connecting environmental issues to everyday realities, especially for vulnerable women in riverine communities.
“We recognized that pollution, unsafe waste disposal, and environmental degradation directly affect women’s health, safety, and economic wellbeing”, The executive director opined, adding that “true community development cannot happen without environmental consciousness.”
“To act on this, we integrated environmental education into skills training, using practical examples to show women how eco-friendly practices—such as recycling and proper waste management—can also lead to livelihood opportunities. “We also facilitate advocacy meetings with religious, traditional, and women’s group leaders to expand the message beyond individual participants and influence community norms”, he said.
According to Charis, environmental awareness is grounded in community empowerment and grassroots leadership, especially through women, by training them and providing starter packs, for the women to in turn translate the knowledge gained into action.
The project which was sponsored by Global Greengrant and implemented by CPD began in October 2024, by focussing on selected 25 young women each from Mbo and Ibeno, which made up the 50 that were trained in soap making, pastry making, hairdressing and tailoring.
The vocational training project was initiated with the goal of economically empowering young women in Mbo and Ibeno Local Government Areas.
She said the gesture was aimed at supporting families and reducing the incidence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) within communities.
She added that “the objective of providing young women with vocational skills that can help them achieve economic independence; reduce the rates of SGBV by empowering women to support themselves and their families; and foster a supportive community environment that encourages the growth and development of young women.”
Mrs Charis stated further that, the training had a three months duration period, and within two months of training, “we have seen significant participation and enthusiasm shown by trainees.”
The executive director thanked community leaders for the commitment shown towards the project.
In addressing the challenges faced by the trainees on the high cost of materials due to inflation, which has limited their ability to practice extensively on their own, the Community Partners for Development, CPD, has given 30 trainees starter packs for them to economically liberate their families and communities from poverty, so they don’t become victims of sexual and gender based violence.
This they said would ensure the sustained success of the initiative and empower the young women towards creating a safer, more prosperous community.
Highlight of the sensitization campaign was the house-to-house engaged in the communities which later culminated into graduation ceremony and presentation of starter packs and Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law to beneficiaries by CPD and Global Greengrant officials.
