The Office of the Edo State First Lady has lauded the Akoko-Edo Development Forum for its unwavering dedication to community development, particularly its focus on initiatives that empower women and girls within their locality. Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator of the First Lady’s Office, expressed her commendation during a meeting with Forum representatives at the Government House in Benin City.
During the meeting, Mrs. Anani reiterated her office’s commitment to collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations on projects that directly benefit communities, with a specific emphasis on the well-being of women and the girl-child. “Charity begins at home,” Mrs. Anani stated. “If everybody takes care of the immediate community, everyone will be well taken care of. Health is vital; a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. We need to prioritize health over wealth.”
A key project highlighted by Mrs. Anani was the proposed “Pad Bank” initiative, designed to address period poverty by providing sanitary pads to girls in rural areas. “One of the programmes we plan to implement is a pad bank initiative, where we will distribute menstrual sanitary pads to girls in rural areas, such that they will take care of them for a whole year,” she explained, underscoring the importance of ensuring access to essential hygiene products for young women.
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Beyond hygiene, Mrs. Anani also emphasized the significance of health and self-sufficiency, advocating for home gardening as a means to access fresh, chemical-free produce. She shared an anecdote about her neighbors frequently visiting her garden to harvest vegetables like “ugwu,” demonstrating the potential for local food production to improve community well-being.
Dr. Icomiare Adebudo, Chairman of the Health and NGO Committee of the Akoko-Edo Development Forum, provided insights into the Forum’s mission and activities. He described the Forum as a community-driven initiative working alongside the government to advance development within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
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“Akoko-Edo sons and daughters in the diaspora have come together to organise ourselves and identified areas where we can contribute to the Local Government’s development. We have established committees, including a Health and NGO subcommittee, which I have the privilege of leading. Our mandate includes promoting health, empowering women, and providing training programmes.” Dr. Adebudo explained.
Dr. Adebudo further detailed the Forum’s ongoing efforts, including the distribution of sanitary pads to girls in schools during health outreaches, aiming to alleviate financial burdens on families and promote girls’ safety and hygiene. He concluded by soliciting collaboration with the Office of the Edo State First Lady to further their shared goals.
“I believe it’s crucial that we engage in advocacy, share our initiatives, and identify areas of common ground where we can collaborate to benefit our people. Rather than just criticizing the government’s efforts, we should also explore ways to complement and support their initiatives.” Dr. Adebudo said.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of optimism and a commitment to exploring potential partnerships to benefit the people of Akoko-Edo and Edo State as a whole.