In Abia, 40,000 women are to be trained in optimizing telephony, internet and the use of smart phone in trading, banking and social communication.
The wife of the Governor Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu who announced during a statewide annual August Women Meeting tagged 2020 Abia Women August Delegates Conference(AWADEC), said the proposed training is aimed at empowering Abia Women to adapt to the new normal in the face of COVID19 pandemic.
She said the pandemic had changed the way of life for women in communities all over the world, placing Information and Communication technology as the most important skill for coping within the period and that any woman who lacked basic ICT skills has found herself left behind.
Mrs. Ikpeazu said it is instructive that for the first time in history, Women August meeting is holding via digital platforms without physical meetings, adding that this is foretaste of things to come. She emphasized that any well-meaning effort to empower women going forward must have elements of modern technology or it will not achieve the desired impact.
She expressed hope that the programme target of uplifting 40,000 through basic digital, ICT skills which can be applied in commerce or social life would domino into a veritable for women renaissance.
The Abia First Lady also decried rising incidences of sexual and gender based violence as a result of lockdown an advised women to take more than usual care in protecting their children who can become victims while ensuring that adequate psychological support and moral training be given to every child to curb tendencies of a child becoming sociopath.
In her welcome address, the chairman of the event who is World President of the International Association of Medical Women, Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi said living by the new normal places a huge burden on women folk to strive to adjust and excel in whatever field they are working in.
This year’s conference which is the 6th annual edition, was the first virtual conference in the series and was themed WOMEN AND THE CHALLENGE OF COVID 19-LIVING THE NEW NORMAL, a virtual conference necessitated by the present limitations on social activities as a result of the covid 19 Pandemic.
The conference addressed pertinent issues such as how women can promote community development in a virtual world space of Social distancing, the need for women to adjust their businesses and entrepreneurship to meet the new realities of covid19,how to utilize information and communication technology to access education for children and adult; how women can play greater roles in keeping their families safe from covid 19.
The Virtual conference which recorded a wide coverage, was described as the most phenomenal women conference in recent times by participants.
The conference which saw contributions from different women groups such as the Nationa Council of Women Societies NCWS, FIDA, National Association of Women Journalists also saw seasoned speakers like Professor Rosaline Ndimele who delivered the keynote address; and a host of others.
The Highpoint of the conference also featured a quiz competition with several prices to be won.
