by Maina Maina
She spoke on Friday at a one-day Capacity Building/Skills Acquisition Training for Vulnerable Women/Girls in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The occasion, which was organized by the coordinator of the Health Care Development Focus Initiative (HECADF) with support from NSRP/British Council, took place at the Women Development Centre in Maiduguri.
She said, although, about 57 of the abducted schoolgirls managed to escape from captivity, no fewer than 219 were still being held captive.
She urged all and sundry to continue to pray for their freedom, as affected parents and their relatives had been traumatized psychologically.
The Principal, however, frowned at the rate which quiet a number of women and girls became widows, orphans and vulnerable in the society following the increasing rate of killings in Borno and some parts of the North-East by insurgents.
In her welcome address, the coordinator of HECADF, Sister Agnes Bashir, said her organization, with support from the British Council, took time and visited some begging spot centres around Mr. Biggs, Oasis, Lizzy Restaurant, Bolori Round-about, Post Office areas in Maiduguri and Jere.
She explained that apart from counselling and sensitizing them both individually and as a group, HECADF deemed it fit to train them on liquid-soap making skills in order to make them self-reliant and as well take them off-the streets.
Agnes noted that these women and girls who participated in the training and capacity building had become breadwinners in their various homes.
While urging the participants to utilize the opportunity from the training so that they will not only be off-the-streets, but also become self-reliant and carter for their immediate needs in the society.
She called on philanthropic organizations and individuals to assist the vulnerable women and girls.
In her goodwill message, the Regional Coordinator of NSRP/British Council, Hajiya Hamsatu Laminu thanked the organizers of the workshop and promised British Council’s support to all institutions that are committed towards empowerment of the vulnerable ones in the society.