Source: Premium Times

Nigeria’s former minister, and a former World Bank Vice President for African Region, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for economic empowerment of women in Nigeria for national development.

Mrs. Ezekwesili,  wife of Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili,  pastor in charge of The Everlasting Arms Parish zone of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, made the call on Saturday in Abuja during the provincial sisters convention 2013.

The convention has as its theme: “The Dependable Sister in this End Time.’’

Mrs. Ezekwesili, also an ordained pastor and now a fierce critic of the federal government, said poverty was a manifestation of the lack of empowerment for women in society, adding that more than 60 per cent of poor people in the country are women.

“This is leading to feminization of poverty which is the deeper manifestation of poverty among the female gender,’’ she said.

Mrs. Ezekwesili, who said that a large number of women across the globe relied on white-collar job for income, noted that the effort had not solved their problems.

“If women were empowered to do more, the possibility for economic growth and development will be enhance,’’ she said.

She urged more training and higher education opportunities to be given to women for self improvement in order to aspire to higher paying jobs.

Mrs. Ezekwesili added that women should be provided with resources and skill that would enable them gain and retain employment to build their career.

She urged women to ensure that they realize their full economic potential and make adequate use of it for the development of their home, church and the nation at larger.

• Nigeria