Ugwuanyi Commends Women Aids Collective For Protecting Women and Children’s Right

Governor Ugwanyi of Enugu State has commended the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), a non-governmental organization, for its relentless advocacy and other actions aimed protecting the right of women and children in the country.

The governor who spoke as he cut the tape to inaugurate a gigantic Women’s House built by the group also described women as the true
heroes of democracy whose support could always be counted at all times.
The university don and founder-director of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, had invited the governor to inaugurate the newly constructed ‘Women’s House’ and also launch the ‘Women Weep Not Fund’ at a function organized in commemoration of the African Women’s Day
Governor Ugwuanyi noted that WACOL had been able to carve out for itself a reputation as a leader in women and children’s welfare and
rights advocacy in Nigeria and indeed in the African continent, pointing out that the construction of the Women’s House which was
designed as a facility to attend to women’s and children’s needs, was a testimony to the commitment of the organization to this noble
mission.

He also recalled that the organization had in partnership with Enugu State Government , the Enugu State Police Command and other relevant
organizations, spearheaded the successful establishment and maintenance of the Sexual Assault Referral Center, Enugu (Tarmar
SARC), noting that the center has been helping to wage war against sexual assault and related offences.
The governor then commended the executive director of WACOL, Prof Joy Ezeillo for her visionary initiatives which have impacted positively on the lives of women and children in Enugu Sate, assuring of the support and cooperation of the state government towards the
realization of the objectives of the project.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Ezeillo stated that Gov Ugwanyi was not just instrumental to the realization of the dream of a permanent house for
women in the state but had been supportive of the ideals of the organization in the state which involve addressing the issues of
domestic violence, child abuse, widowhood disinheritance and harmful traditional practices.
She drew attention to the current advocacy for the passage of Child Rights Bill and Equal Opportunities into law in Enugu State and
equally stated that there was need to create a specialized family court to address the scourge of domestic violence, child delinquency
and other related matters.

In her own remarks at the occasion, the chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Women, Hon Stella Ngwu, commended WACOL
director for her courage and dedication to the plight of women and revealed that the House committee on Women was planning to conduct
advocacy visits to all the states of the federation in order to focus attention on domestic violence against women.
She thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for being a gender sensitive leader who loves and addresses issues concerning women with dispatch.
Present on the occasion were several women groups, traditional rulers and other government officials who all expressed their solidarity for
what WACOL is doing in the state.