The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Sunday concluded a training program for over 500 women on innovative skills and rudiments of self sustenance in order to carter for their individuals needs and that of their family.

NDDC conducted the capacity-building programe in collaboration with the Father’s Heart Foundation.

The workshop is part of the commission’s programme to mark the 2019 International Women’s Day, which had as its theme, ‘Balance for Better’ and aimed at advancing gender equality in women.

Speaking during the conference, a resource person, Mrs. Tobore Olumoye, urged women to keep updating themselves with modern technologies in order to be relevant in the society.

Olumoye, who is the President of Sterling Toast Master Club, said that the conference is focus on innovative ways in which women can close the gender gap and add value to tasks before them to earn equality at the work place and business settings.

“As you know, innovation and technology provide unprecedented opportunities, yet trends indicate a growing gender divide and women are underrepresented in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design.

“This prevents them from developing and influencing gender responsive innovations to achieve transformative gains for the society.

“When women upgrade themselves with advance knowledge, it makes them more relevant and afford them the opportunity to leave the legacy of a fulfilled life, and become asset not only to the society but to themselves,” Olumoye said.

In her own lecture, Mrs. Ibelema Greene urged women to upgrade their knowledge and follow up with innovations and skills to sustain themselves in the challenging economy.

Green listed practical steps on how women can upgrade themselves in an ever changing world through learning new things, unlearning and relearning so that they can discover what they need to offer the world.

She explained that “life is a balance between holding on and letting go and knowing when to do either of the two” while pointing out that every woman thinks differently with unique skills and individual strengths.

According to her, women must be lifelong learners though unlearning is quite difficult especially in trying to drop bad habits that do not yield good results.

Green enjoined participants to try to be their selves and stop seeking approval of others’ as it was a mark of low self esteem.

Green emphasised that “the woman you are becoming will cost you. It will cost you people, relationships, spaces and material things. Choose her over everything.”

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