Hon. Bisi Idaomi, Edo State Comm. For Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation (L), and Hon. Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah, Edo State Comm. for Women Affairs and Social Dev
From our news desk, Benin
The Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has given its nod to a proposed partnership; aimed at expanding empowerment at the grassroots across the 18 Local Government Council Areas.
The State Commissioner for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bisi Idaomi, Esq., made the proposal during a courtesy visit to her counterpart in the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah in Benin City.
The partnership would expand skills acquisition, economic empowerment and poverty reduction initiatives across the State’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), when it comes on stream, it was said.
This was made known in a press release on Thursday, 1 October, 2026 by the director of media in the Ministry, Daisy Osunde and circulated amongst journalists in the State Capital.
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Briefing the Women Affairs Commissioner on the proposed partnership, Hon. Idaomi was quoted to have explained that the proposed partnership would leverage the structures and resources of the 18 local government councils, to develop sustainable empowerment programmes for women, youths and other vulnerable residents.
Adding; that the proposed framework followed engagements with the 18 LGA Chairmen and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu.
She noted that the local government councils could support skills acquisition and vocational programmes in areas such as furniture making and other crafts, including assisting beneficiaries to establish businesses and access wider commercial opportunities.
According to her, the initiative is also expected to reduce pressure on the state government’s finances by mobilising resources from local governments and development partners, for sustainable grassroots interventions.
As she stressed the need to establish systems that would continue to deliver benefits beyond the tenure of the present administration.
“We can establish processes so that after our time, anybody who comes in will know that we have left a beautiful legacy.”
However, the proposed partnership is expected to receive further consideration through engagements with local government councils and relevant stakeholders, with emphasis on skills development, economic empowerment, poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods, Idaomi was quoted to have stated.
When fully on stream, the initiative would help to reinforce the Edo State Government’s commitment to strengthening human capital development; and creating opportunities that can improve the socio-economic wellbeing of residents at the grassroots, she further stated.
Responding, Mrs. Abdallah was said to have expressed her support for the collaboration, while stressing the importance of developing innovative and sustainable approaches to funding and implementing grassroots empowerment programmes.
As she noted that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, given its mandate of promoting the welfare and empowerment of women and vulnerable groups, would be willing to work with relevant government institutions and development partners, to ensure that interventions reach the intended beneficiaries.
Abdallah was said to have further advocated greater utilisation of local government autonomy and partnerships with development organisations; to support empowerment programmes, rather than placing the entire financial burden on the State government.
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“Going to the Governor all the time to ask for money is like overburdening him. It is better for us to generate ideas, secure development partners, and key into local government autonomy to fund these initiatives.”
The Commissioner emphasised that such an approach would create opportunities for women and youths to acquire practical skills, establish businesses and become economically self-reliant, while also contributing to the development of their communities.
Continuing, the Commissioner was said to have assured that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development would collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, towards translating the proposal into practical empowerment opportunities for residents across the 18 LGAs.
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