The United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) said it rehabilitated and upgraded the Ebonyi Rehabilitation Centre to help vulnerable persons to undergo training in vocational skills.
The UNFPA Resident Representative in the country, Dr Gifty Addico, said this during the handover of the renovated ans retrofitted centre to the State Government.
Addico said the gesture would improve the economic livelihood of vulnerable women and girls in the state.
The UNFPA chief, represented by the Cross River Sub-Office and Programme Coordinator, Dr Andrew Kirima, said that the centre would also be beneficial to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), vesico vaginal fistula and women with disabilities.
He also said that the economically active women have great decision making role at home and community, which positively impacts on their general wellbeing.
“UNFPA remains committed to the 2023 development agenda in ensuring zero prevention in maternal deaths, unmet needs, GBV, and harmful practices, among others.
“We have been collaborating with the State Government for over 16 years and invested in various interventions aimed at preventing and responding to vulnerable women and girls,” Addico said.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, gave assurance that GBV survivors and indigent persons in society would be made to undergo skill acquisition training and empowerment to become self-reliant.
Nwankpuma said that UNFPA would maximise the use of the facility for the development of Ebonyi women.
“Women are grateful to UNFPA for this opportunity and we are assuring you that our women will be on the rise as they will grow economically and contribute towards nation building,” Nwankpuma said.
A Head of Department in the ministry, Mrs Roseline Oji, expressed commitment to ensure that the department served its purpose effectively by offering essential services, including psycho-social counselling and skill acquisition for those in need.
Oji commended UNFPA for its support and appealed to the partners to continue to support the cause to fulfill its mission of restoring dignity and hope to those it would serve.
The Coordinator, GBV Task Force and Partner, Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, described the centre as survivors place of healing and empowerment, adding that it would enable them to have access to skills and become financially active.
The Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs Anne Ik-Odeh, pleaded that the facility should be made accessible to the vulnerable persons and promised to support the project to be sustainable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sewing machines, dryers, clippers, gas cookers, kitchen utensils with complete accessories for various sections of the facility, were provided.