By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Kogi state First Lady, Hajiya Halima Ladi Wada, has advised fish sellers association in Idah to take advantage of the fish smoking industry provided by her pet project, Kogi Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN), to flood the market as well as bring down the cost of the item across the state.
Hajiya Wada stated this at Idah during an interactive session led by KOWEN coordinator for Idah local government, Mrs Laraba Isa Ameadaji.
She said her project had already put in place machinery to support women groups through provision of fingerlings to improve their commercial participation.
Hajiya Wada restated the commitment of KOWEN to establishing more small scale industries in other parts of the state, while urging the women groups to form themselves into cooperative groups spread across the 10 wards of the local government under the umbrella of KOWEN fishing processing company.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Hajiya Ameadaji thanked the wife of the governor for her show of concern for the women and children in the state, stating that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
Highlights of the visit included prayers for the continuous success of the administration of Governor Idris Ichalla Wada and his family.
In another development, The First Lady has described culture and tradition as the “bane of the survival of any society.”
Hajiya Wada stated this in Idah during her address on this year’s celebration of the age-long Boat Reggatta, popularly known as “Aboko ocheja/Ebije.” She advised the people of the area to strive to continue to protect “our cultural relics, monuments and heritage,” saying, however, that “culture is life.” She commended the organisers of the annual festival and urged them to sustain the tempo like her pet programme, Kogi Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN).
According to her, KOWEN has also contributed to the programme one way or the other through engaging women who are part of the protectors of “our cherished relics in productive ventures to sustain their activities.”
In his remarks, HRM, Agabaidu Micheal Idakwo Ameh Oboni, the Attah Igala, said the role of “Aboko” in the emancipation of Igala kingdom remained fresh in “our memory” and prayed for continuous peace, progress and long life for the Igala descent.
Also speaking, the Ochada Attah Igala, Senator Ahmadu Ali advised the people of Idah and Igala land to remain steadfast in the protection of their entire cultural monument, saying that “culture remains a human identity.”
