Anambra to Relaunch Women’s Skills Acquisition Programme, Plans Family Counselling Unit
By Stella Anekwe
The Anambra State Government has announced plans to relaunch its skills acquisition and empowerment programme for women as part of renewed efforts to promote economic independence and improve social welfare across the state.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, disclosed this during her inaugural meeting with staff of the ministry in Awka, where she unveiled key priorities aimed at strengthening service delivery and expanding opportunities for women.
She revealed that application forms for the upcoming skills acquisition programme would soon be made available, encouraging interested women across the state to take advantage of the initiative.
According to the Commissioner, the programme is designed to equip women with practical vocational skills, boost entrepreneurship, and enhance their economic well being in line with the ministry’s mandate.
Mrs. Onyekesi also directed the heads of the ministry’s eight departments to work closely as a team and begin submitting monthly activity reports to improve accountability, monitoring, and effective implementation of government programmes.
As part of efforts to strengthen family support services, she disclosed that the ministry is considering the establishment of a counselling unit to address the growing number of family disputes, domestic challenges, and other social welfare issues requiring professional intervention.
The Commissioner issued a strong warning against any violation of the legal procedures guiding child adoption, stressing that illegal adoption, child trafficking, and the sale of children remain criminal offences that will not be tolerated.
She urged officers of the Child Welfare Department to strictly comply with all legal and administrative procedures in handling adoption cases to safeguard the rights and welfare of children.
Calling for a renewed commitment to public service, Mrs. Onyekesi encouraged staff to uphold professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and dedication as the ministry works to advance women’s development and improve social welfare services in line with the vision of the Soludo administration.
In her remarks, the Supervisory Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Barrister Jacinta Nkeiruka Mokwe, described the meeting as timely and pledged the full cooperation of staff in implementing the Commissioner’s programmes and reforms.
The meeting also featured presentations by the heads of the ministry’s departments, including Administration, Accounts, Planning, Research and Statistics, Rehabilitation, Child Welfare, Women Affairs, Social Welfare, and Public Relations, who outlined their responsibilities and ongoing activities.
The planned relaunch of the skills acquisition programme is expected to provide more women with opportunities to acquire income generating skills while strengthening the state’s commitment to women empowerment, child protection, and improved social welfare.
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