The Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has challenged the women who are in forefront of technical education to increase their tempo, have more coverage, mentor more young girls, engage more relevant stakeholders and advocate for more gender-friendly policies tailored towards advancement in technical education.

Uzodimma, who spoke through his deputy, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, handed out this challenge in his address during the National Coordinating Committee Meeting of Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED) and appreciation of the 19th substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.

The Governor said, “seeing the great women with capacity and immense potentials driving technical education in Nigeria gives him great confidence in having mentorship for the girl child which will gradually close the gap in gender disparity at work places”.

Continuing, he said, “many job opportunities in companies and sectors like construction, manufacturing, agriculture, telecommunication, oil and gas, are male dominated which doesn’t augur well for the society as such jobs demand gender diversity for better innovations, increased reach and improved earnings.

“In today’s world, to build a society with more empowered women, increased employable women, reduced poverty, devoid of gender stereotypes, greater potentials for innovations and societal change, technical education is the answer”.

He stressed that it is the conviction that informed his administration’s establishment of not only the Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education, but also the Ministry of Digital Economy and E- Governance, which has trained and empowered over 40 thousand Imo youths (males and females) in technical and digital skills.

The Imo First Lady and the wife of the Governor, Chief (Barr) Chioma Uzodimma, who was represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu called for more support for women, while advocating for a more united women bodies leading through the fronts in the course for gender equality and more participation of women in technical and vocational education.

In his speech, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Dr. Mrs Basilia Igbokwe, who is the former National Secretary of WITED and currently the chairperson, Committee of Rectors of Polytechnics, COHEADS – WITED, said the body is established to champion women participation in technical education, empower women and foster collaboration, adding that education is critical to unlocking women’s potentials.

She promised to utilize her position as the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede and chairperson, COHEADS WITED , to create opportunities for women to showcase their potentials and utilize every opportunity to unleash their technical skills and knowledge, without relenting in her quest to protecting women against gender based violence.

In his address, the Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Chief Ikechukwu Iko, who spoke through Hon. Nkem Favour Asogwa, appreciated the women, reechoed the call for gender inclusiveness and encouraged women to always aim higher to achieve greater heights.

Earlier in her address, the National/chapter Coordinator of WITED, Princess Regina Amadi disclosed that the body was set up in 1988, by the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) which was concerned about the under-representation of women in Science and Technology.

She however, seized the opportunity to appreciate Governor Uzodimma for standing for women, which was further demonstrated by helping to ensure the appointment of Dr. Basilia Igbokwe, a woman as the 9th substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, through a free and fair process, without gender bias.

Also adding her voice was the Local Government Chairman, Ngor Okpala, Hon. Chika Ibekwe, who felicitated the women, encouraged them to remain resolute in their commitment to women empowerment and emancipation.

Highpoint of the event was the decorations of the Deputy Governor, the wife of the Governor, the Rector FEDNEK, Chairman Governing Council, FEDNEK and presentation of a souvenir, a symbol of a Lion to the Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma.