COMMUNITY BASED/STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AT EJULE OF OFU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EDEKE/ICHALA DISTRICT, EGA DISTRICT AND IDAH NATIVE DISTRICT OF IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE BY DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION CENTRE (DEC) ENUGU
COMMUNITY BASED/STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AT EJULE OF OFU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EDEKE/ICHALA DISTRICT, EGA DISTRICT AND IDAH NATIVE DISTRICT OF IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE BY DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION CENTRE (DEC) ENUGU
Introduction
Ejule, Edeke/Ichala, Ega and Idah Native districts are Ofu and Idah local governments of Kogi state. These districts like other Igala land are known for their each cultural and traditional heritage. They are good warriors and farmers. The land is endowed with natural resources like rivers, mountains, and other ancient arts which attracts tourism, the state is also blessed with people of high academic repute who seek to better the living condition of the women and girls of their communities.
In Africa and Nigeria in particular, women and girls suffer lots of inhuman treatment as a result of the cultural and traditional practices. Others still as a result of religion and lack of education are politically marginalized, deprived governance and leadership positions at the community and local to state levels.
Development Education Centre a non-governmental organization that is partnering with community people in the South East and North Central zones of Nigeria on women’s right and empowerment programmes was invited to partner with the districts of ejule, Ega, Edeke/Ichala and Idah native by the traditional leaders of the local government on the approval of His Royal Majesty the Attah of Igala to ensure that women and the people of the districts improved their living conditions with regards to having good and robust inclusive governance structure, access to quality health care services, skills acquisition and increased economic base of the rural women.
Attendance / Participants
To realize the objective of this programme, DEC Enugu organized a community based sensitization for the community people to ensure good understating of the programme. Notably in attendance during the workshop include but not restricted to the four district heads in their various districts, their gagos, Madakis’ the women leaders’ iyiebules, their community leaders, youth leaders and other members of the communities
Discussions during the meetings
The sensitization centered on the women rights and empowerment, the issues of inclusive community governance, and the working together of men and women in the development of the community. The discussions also x-rayed the health intervention programme of DEC with the community people in their communities and how the youths of the community and their young mothers can participate in the skills acquisition programme and the economic empowerment programme of DEC Enugu
The work of DEC Enugu with the community people is for human capital development and behavioral change in the way we do things and see each other especially as it affect the female in our society. DEC Enugu educates the people to be the architect of their own life and development. This education will enable the people to critically look into their governance system and structures to find how beneficial it has been to both men and women in the society, and how the governance structures has promoted the rights of the people of the community especially women with regards to the adherence to culture and tradition.
Resolution
1. All the district heads from the four districts showed their interest in working with DEC on the women empowerment programme. Some of the leaders of the people said that they have witnessed the progress of the programme in Ogbogbo, Ajaka and other parts of Igalamela/Odolu local government area
2. The representative of the Royal Majesty The Attah of Igala said that they are going to present in detail the issue of inclusive governance as it is the major intervention that will determine the other intervention for critical address on how best to implement it in the communities
Reported by
Ogazi Christopher
CPIO DEC Enugu