The Department of Women Affairs is a key operational department of the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development with the responsibility of handling issues affecting vulnerable persons majorly on women locally, nationally and internationally. The department is responsible for promoting the socio-economic and political empowerment of women and vulnerable persons by initiating policies, programmes and projects which are geared towards the advancement, and enhancement of their living standards.
THEMATIC AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT
Women Empowerment Development Division
Women Welfare Division
Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Human Trafficking/Irregular Migration Division
Registration of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have to do with women are registered in the Department and certificates are issued after due endorsement by the Permanent Secretary and Honourable Commissioner. The process involves verification by the personnel of the Department and publication in the Nigerian Observer Newspaper. This exercise affords the Ministry the opportunity to harness their viability and identify them for government recognition and possible collaboration. The resultant revenue accruing from this area had gone a long way in boosting the Ministry’s internal generated revenue.
EDO STATE SKILLS ACQUISITION CENTRES
This Ministry presently runs two (2) Skills Acquisition Centres. They are Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu, Benin City and Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area. The objective for the establishment of this institution is to train young persons with skills to work in Nigeria industries as contribution to poverty eradication, fight against human trafficking and other social vices, for self-sustainability and employer of labor.
The Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu, Benin City runs the following courses:
iii. Tailoring/Fashion Design.
The Igarra Skills Acquisition Centre runs the following courses:
iii. Tailoring & Fashion Design.
The Centres run two (2) sessions in a year (January – June) and (July – December). While the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu has turned out over 4,000 graduates since its inception, the Skills Acquisition Centre, Igarra celebrated its first graduates in September 2017.
SUPERVISION OF FSP IWOGBAN STORES
The Iwogban Stores situated at Iwogban Quarters at Ikpoba Hill, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government are owned by this Ministry and are
under the supervision of the Department of Gender Issues. The stores
consist of a Hall, 7 Lock-up Stores and 8 Open Spaces/Attachments. Revenue generated through rents from this unit of the Department are been paid into the Ministry’s IGR account.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CITIZENS
This refers to rendering of financial assistance to the identified and deserving individuals and groups who apply to the Ministry. It is also known as emergency aids given to vulnerable persons to improve their livelihood.
WIDOWS EMPOWERMENT AND PROTECTION
This is a support given to widows to counter loneliness, social isolation, loss of confidence and abuse of fundamental human right through economic programs.
EDO STATE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WOMEN SOCIETIES [NCWS]
National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) is the umbrella body of all women organizations in the country and is committed to working with various governments towards the welfare of women for which the organization have been a formidable partner to this Ministry in the course
of the implementing its mandate. The election for the new executives is long overdue, as the old executives has been dissolved.
OBSERVATION/CELEBRATION OF SPECIAL DAYS
The following United Nations or special days are observed/celebrated in the State through the Department of Women Affairs:
6th February | International Day of Zero Tolerance against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) |
8th of March | International Women’s Day |
23rd of June | International Widow’s Day |
15th of October | International Day of Rural Women |
25th of November | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls |
3.8 VIVIAN GBV CENTRE
The Vivian Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) was established in June 2020 by Edo State Government in collaboration with RoLAC British Council. The centre is currently situated at the premises of the Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma Women Centre No.1 Coronation Avenue GRA Benin City, Edo State with contact number 07046055026.
Services rendered to clients include: Medical care, Psychosocial support/Counseling, Investigation (by Police and Civil defence) and Legal services.
The Centre has two (2) NGOs that support the counseling unit. They are the Society to Heighten Awareness of Women and Children Abuse (SOTHAWACA) and Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma Women Centre SDDWC: The SDDWC was commissioned on the 2nd of May, 2023 by the immediate past administration, a first in class women center with the mandate to provide comprehensive care for women with emphasis on their socioeconomic empowerment and temporal shelter from abusive unions. It houses the State Task Force on Anti Human Trafficking (metamorphosed into Trafficking Agency), State SARC Center, Skills Acquisition/Training halls, indoor and mini field sporting facilities and a 100-bed space hostel facility to serve as transit for survivors of Gender Based Violence and Returned migrants. The Centre which was proposed to function under a Board of Trustees with a public private partnership arrangement (Pathfinders Justice Initiative – PJI), was still at its infant stage for full operations. This is an initiative that has been reported at the National level as a positive milestone for Edo State’s fight against GBV and is recommended for full operationalization.
