As part of its numerous plans and project to meet up with Gender Equality mission by the Globalafairscanada through the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project supported by Actionaidnigeria, Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) an NGO in Enugu State have trained over thirty female political aspirants and other female political activists in the state on Capacity Building, Fundraising Strategies and Campaign Mobilization.
Speaking in the event, the Executive Director WEPBI Joy Oguadimma started by bringing to the knowledge of the participants what WEPBI is. According to her WEPBI is a Non-governmental organization with emphasis and focus on the rights and wellbeing of women and girls in the society.
She also tabled the mission of the organization which is to work with women and girls and their collectives to participate in all decision making space that advance their rights, their vision which is to create an equitable society in which everyone enjoys their rights irrespective of gender, creed and other affiliations, their thematic areas which are peace building and conflict resolution, good governance and women’s right/ economic empowerment and their core values which are inclusive leadership, transparency, equity, accountability, mutual respect, informing to empower and leadership competence. According to her, WEPBI is out to ring the bell of gender equality and work tirelessly to break the barriers and breed agenda and programs that will lift women into the leadership role of their society in all level.
To do that she said, “we have gone far to establish the Women Leadership Academy (WLA), a leadership training institution which have produced notable persons that have taken bold step into leadership and is conquering the stage”
Going further, Oguadimma recalled their achievements in the area of women inclusion in the traditional cabinet council of some communities Enugu state. “Our efforts have resulted to the inclusion and recognition of women in the traditional ruling council of some local governments and communities in Udi, Aniri and Igbo Eze North local government areas respectively” the Executive Director said.
Amb. Mrs. Gloria Onyinye, one of the facilitators while enlightening the participants on the fundraising strategies, told them that they have to rebrand themselves in other to be able to create the value which people want, that will attract them to offer their money to them for their race into leadership. “People tends to place their trust and resources on whatever create the value they want” Mrs. Gloria said.
According to her, “as a political aspirant, you have to know your brand, what you are made of and also identify your unique selling point to be able to capture the attention of those that will financially support your mission”.
Barr. Mrs. Nnenna Anozie, who spoke on the campaign mobilization, took the participants on the necessary moves needed to make to capture the people and present their interest. “ Most importantly, one has to first of all belong to a political party, identify with your ward and constituency, attend party meetings, identify with stakeholders and then think of declaring your interest to contest for any position’ she said.
Barr. Anozie going further said that it is very important to set up a campaign team, build confidence and credibility, and work with people with like minds.
In closing remark the Executive Director wepbi, Joy Ijeoma Oguadimma appreciated the participant and the facilitators saying that she is looking forward to see the impact of the training in the political activities of the women.
She also prayed for a situation where most of them will be recorded as governor, senators and other important political positions in Enugu state and beyond.
The event recorded the presence of some female top political former and present aspirants from different constituencies in Enugu State including some student union leaders from different schools.