Rivers govt, WCCIMA to partner on economic empowerment

Rivers State Government has assured of its readiness to partner with the Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WCCIMA) on the economic empowerment of women in the State.

Ngozi Odu, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, gave the assurance, on Tuesday, when Chinyere Nwoga, President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), led a delegation of Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WCCIMA), Rivers/Bayelsa chapter, to Government House, Port Harcourt.

Odu, a Professor, called on the women to unite in championing female leadership, emphasising that sustained solidarity among women, would create enduring change and inspire future generations.

She congratulated Nwoga, the leader of the delegation on her historic emergence, as the first female President of PHCCIMA since its establishment, describing the milestone, as a powerful example of women’s capability in leadership.

Odu stressed the importance of building women’s capacity, whether in rural communities or among working professionals, to enable them excel in their chosen fields.

“Our priority is to keep impacting lives, no matter how small. The moment you improve the capacity of women, you build their confidence. They begin to do better in whatever they know how to do,” she added.

Chinyere Nwoga, leader of the WCCIMA delegation earlier explained that the visit was intended to express solidarity with the visionary leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Nwoga highlighted how his administration has fostered peace, stability, and renewed investors’ confidence in Rivers State, through infrastructure development, human capital advancement, security enhancement, and economic diversification.

She noted that those priorities align closely with the core mission and objectives of the Port Harcourt Chamber, the Women Chamber, and the broader Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce.

“Under my stewardship, PHCCIMA has placed women’s economic empowerment at the heart of our agenda. Through our vibrant Women’s Wing and the historic inauguration of the Rivers State Chapter of the Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, we have rolled out targeted initiatives, including grants and financial literacy support for women-led SMEs, capacity-building workshops, mentorship circles, and advocacy for greater female participation in commerce, industry and agriculture,” she said.