By Lewis S Teh
Female Worker’s Association at the Ministry of Public Works has inducted a new corps of officers that will steer the affairs of the association for the next few years.
Those installed along with Madam Saye include Ms Rosetta Luolay Ajavon, Viceย President; Miss Miatta Flomo, Queen; Mrs. Sonia Doe Twoe, Secretary General; Mrs. Patience N. Paye, Financial Secretary; Miss Aylmerlyn Joshan Brooks, Assistant Financial Secretary; Mrs. Christiana Gbadebo Rennie, Treasurer; Mother Comfort S. Arnor, Religious Advisor, Miss Diena Dunn Sherman, Chaplain; and Miss Janjay Harris, Head of Publicity.ย
Speaking at the 2nd inaugural program and empowerment scheme launch recently, the president-elect Mrs. Irene Doegma Saye expressed a sense of both honor and humanity.
“I’m deeply honored to welcome all of our invited guests for being here todayโ, she said.
She thanked the Ministry of Public Works and members of the Association for the confidence reposed in her and the management team of the Ministry for their welcoming embrace.
Ms Saye said the new leadership has a mix of knowledge, skills, experience and determination to work hard on behalf of female employees of the ministry to deliver on its agenda.
“We will not pretend to be any more experts than others,ย but we can assure all our women will feel they have a safe place in this association.”
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According to her, despite coming from a poor background, one thing she did was never to allow people to take advantage of her situation, saying โI did not compromise my self-esteem despite growing up with many challenges.โ
Ms Saye said during her upcoming, she believed in herself and kept pushing forward, knowing there was a hero in her that would have shown up someday.
She cautioned members of her team to be courageous, stay positive and strong, noting that they can live a fulfilled life by being themselves.
She revealed that the vision of the Association under her leadership will focus on seeking opportunities for empowerment, sustainability and efficient leadership as well as jobs and economic security.
She challenged her colleague females to pursue their top priorities in order to get on the path toward developing an โopportunity culture.โ
“We want all our women to be able to fulfill their potentials; we want our members to be protected and supported, we want to reach out to the most vulnerable in our membership”, Ms Saye underscored.
ย She added that there was a need to provide support to the new leadership to allow them to introduce local initiatives that are both appropriate and sustainable, saying “As we launch this pilot empowerment skills training program, it is important to note why empowering women is so important.
Madam Saye named sense of worth, right to have and to determine choices,ย to have access to opportunities, and resources, to have power to control their own lives, both within and outside of their various homes, including the ability to influence decision-making as the five key components that women empowerment possess.
She narrated that the scheme is designed to provide female workers and some of their male counterparts at the ministry with additional skills that will aid their revenue generation.
According to her, the project seeks to offer skills training for about 250 persons 80% of whom are women and 20% men, at a cost of US$6,560.00 with members contributing US$550.00.
“Distinguished guests and members of the Ministry of Public Works Family, weโre kindly asking you to help us help ourselves. When women are empowered, the country benefitsโ, she stressed.
Meanwhile, the guest speaker at the program, Rev. Odell Swen cautioned the new leadership to be the real deal that will seek the welfare of its followers.
“Leadership is not so much about the journey but the processes; today as you have been installed into office, people will begin looking up to you.
You must act as leaders; you must take and follow instructions at all times; the plight of the people should be your primary concernโ, Rev. Swen urged.
She further challenged the newly inducted officials to provide clarity, support and opportunity to keep learning and leading.
Among guests at the program were Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue, a proxy of CDC Campaign Manager, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, and Assistant Public Works Minister, Jeff Chesson.
