The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ngozi Nma Odu, has underscored the pivotal role of women in driving sustainable development, peacebuilding, economic growth and environmental stewardship across the Niger Delta.
Odu spoke on Tuesday at the Niger Delta Women Conference held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The conference, themed “Empowering Niger Delta Women for Enhanced Political Inclusion, Peace, and Development,” was organised by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) with support from the British High Commission.
Describing the gathering as timely and strategic, Odu said it provided a platform for dialogue, empowerment and capacity building for women across the region.
She maintained that no meaningful progress could be achieved in the Niger Delta without placing women at the centre of governance and community development efforts.
According to her, women’s nurturing and protective instincts position them as natural agents of peace and stability.
Drawing an analogy, she likened women to a mother hen shielding her chicks from danger. “When the hawk comes, the mother hen spreads her feathers to protect them. When she finds food, she gives it first to her children,” she said, stressing that such selflessness and resilience are vital for community advancement.
The deputy governor commended PANDEF and its partners for convening the conference and urged participants to leverage their collective strength and creativity to foster unity and sustainable progress in the oil-rich region.
In her remarks, former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who was Special Guest of Honour, called on women to rise above political divides and intensify advocacy for greater inclusion in leadership and decision-making.
“Let us love and support one another. What a man can do, we can do better. We are prosperous. We are honest. We are the best,” she said.
PANDEF National Woman Leader, Grace Ekong, noted that the organisation remained committed to dialogue, equality, peace and environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta. She said the conference was designed to sensitise and equip women with the knowledge and tools required for active participation in governance and regional development.
Ekong added that PANDEF continues to engage the Federal Government on issues affecting the Niger Delta, serving as a voice for the region’s aspirations.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Maureen Etebu stressed that empowering women was integral to strengthening governance, peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
She argued that genuine transformation in the region would remain elusive without deliberate efforts to enhance women’s inclusion and leadership at all levels.
