Over 130 women empowered as PHED hosts women’s meet initiative

From Ani Bassey

In line with it’s Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc, hosted its  Women Empowerment Programme.

The event, which held on Friday, last week was tagged, Women’s Meet Initiative (WMI)  and toom place in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The initiative is the third to be held since it was flagged off five (5) years ago, had over 130 women in attendance.

The women were honed on several skills comprising Cosmetology, Pastery, Soap and Cleansing agent skills. 

The Regional Manager, Eket Region, Mr Anthony Etim, who doubled as the representative of the Ag. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) Mrs. Ochuko Amah, during his opening speech, extolled women as gender supportive mechanisms whose role as nation builders grows challenging on the backdrop of the current crisis, bedevilling the Nigerian economy.

He explained that this has increased the company’s desire to empower women, encouraging them to cherish the opportunity that PHED renders on a platter of gold and make it worth the while.

One of the Company’s facilitators, Mrs Edith Imaekhai, in her presentation on the Essence of Womanhood, hailed women as a special creation whose unrelenting belief and faith in God account for their resilience, dignity and diligence.

She appealed to them to bring these attributes to bear in the empowerment programme, adding that it will win them increased spousal respect if their supportive roles grow to include financial contribution.

Another facilitator, Sophilia Obire,  spoke on the reason behind the WMI initiative.

She hinted that over time, PHED has observed women to be the most productive in all the series of empowerment programmes that the company has embarked upon from inception.

She urged them to prove themselves yet again by being productive with the initiative.

The Head, Customer Services, PHED, Madam Angella Ajere, in her contribution, maintained that PHED had engaged the services of Indigenous Entrepreneurs like Cherrygold Xpression, Penta Care Skincare Production and Ma’Twister Cakes & More, to train the women for Soap and Cleansing Agent, Cosmetology and Pastery respectively, paving way for the Manager, Customer Care, PHED HQ, Madam Adnama Ogbwuegbu to coordinate the training.

Of the over 130 women who were equipped with the three different skills, six (6) being two (2) each from the three (3) different groups, who displayed outstanding feedback from the training, went home with cash gifts to start their Entrepreneurial journey.

The beneficiaries of the cash prizes include Esther Emmanuel Tommy and Margaret Ephraim Solomon (Cosmetology), Mercy Etim David and Esther Sam, (Pastery) and Madam Lydia Jackson and Victoria Akanimo (Soap &Cleansing Agent).

They  extolled the PHED for the programme and pledged to be dedicated ambassadors of PHED.

Similarly, the Crown Chief of Eket Nation, High Chief Amb Francis T Enò, who witnessed the event, extolled PHED for finding the Eket Community Women worthy to be empowered and prayed for the continued growth of PHED.

The Head Corporate Communications, Mrs Olubukola Ilevbare, lauded  PHED for such sponsorship.

She applauded the women for their cooperation, summing the event up as impactful and the most successful of the IWM events.

Other PHED staff who graced the event were: the MDA Product Head, Mrs Boma Emmanuel- Ofor, Non-MD Product Head, Mrs Chika Anayo- Ezikeoha, Regional Managers  Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, Stephen Mbat and Idongesit Udo, Team Lead, Community Engagement and CSR, Mr Benibor Benjamin, Regional Customer Service Manager, Eket Region, Mrs Emilia Asuquor to mention a few.

It should be recalled that PHED on May 27th, earlier this year, impacted the educational sector when she hosted 200 school children at her headquarters during the Children’s Day Celebrations. 

The students were gifted branded items, including tee shirts and stationery, as part of her CSR activity in 2024.

Only last year, PHED empowered 100 women who showed up for the IWD held last year in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.