The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) joins the global community to commemorate the March 8, 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) set aside to celebrate Niger Delta women in all sphere, for the demonstration of their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively lead in the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, and for the active roles they play in the prevention, mitigation and resolution of conflicts in the face of negative socio-economic and political impacts of the pandemic experienced.
As this year’s theme: Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’ celebrates the amazing resilience and adaptability approaches demonstrated by women and girls standing at the front line in the COVID-19 crisis to influence a more equal future and recovery from the novel COVID-19 pandemic around the world, PIND shares in the year’s honor of Niger Delta women with the subtheme: “taking the lead in building resilience in a COVID-19 world” to deliver insight on the nexus between economic development and peacebuilding and provide opportunity to discuss women’s role in the management of COVID-19 pandemic- awareness, caregiver, mobilization for observance of COVID-19 protocols. The Foundation targets to acquaint women with business opportunities amidst COVID-19, build skill to maximize the opportunities as well as discuss challenges encountered by women in an attempt to actualize their full latent.
Within the subtheme aimed at increasing campaigns to eliminate obstacles that deprive women from making progress across the region, PIND will be canvassing for more opportunities for women, advocating formulation and implementation of policies to overcome all forms of deprivation and advance the common good of women in the Niger Delta region;
Using social media and radio talk-shows to publicize the event to increase awareness, women knowledge will be enhanced on COVID-19 risks and management, promotion of community testing, adherence to laid down protocols and reduction of COVID-19 related stigma and how to intensify their exploits within the economic development and peacebuilding strands for greater impact.
In addition, PIND will facilitate an entrepreneurial awareness and business trainings amidst COVID-19. Participants will be trained on production of face mask and face shield, hand sanitizers and disinfectants, E-marketing and agent banking business popularly known as POS Business. At the end of the two days training in three locations, Yenegoa, Warri, and Akure; successful trainees will be linked to firms for internship and mentorship programs that will familiarize them with the thriving market of COVID-19 businesses.
Also, the Partner for Peace (P4P), an offshoot of PIND with over eight years’ experience in conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution in the Niger Delta and beyond will facilitate an integrated leadership and peacebuilding training sessions in the three locations within the two days. Trainees will be equipped on what constitute conflict, peacebuilding, COVID-19 conflicts drivers, leadership and managing conflicts in business places.
