A lot of women in Rivers and Bayelsa State lost their jobs and means of livelihood as a result of economic downturn and negative impact of their depleting environment.
This observation was made by a group, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, at a summit for stakeholders women cooperatives in Rivers State held in Port Harcourt.
Head of human rights and governance at CEHRD, David Vareba said the outcome of a baseline report carried out by the organization reveals that women have resorted to seeking alternative means of survival but in dire need of support from government and the private sector.
Speaking earlier in her remarks, Chairperson of CEHRD, Constance Meju said women are critical for the sustenance of any serious economy and must, therefore, be equipped and empowered to meet their economic goals.
Uchechukwu Uriri, the Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs expressed concerns about the lack of opportunities given to women for fear of being too influential but she noted that government has a lot of incentives for the development of women to take advantage of.
Correspondent Victor Ezeama reports that a policy framework was developed to train and equip some women across the three senatorial districts of Rivers State courtesy of the Dutch Embassy.