By Peter Okolie

Women Environmental Programme (WEP) has trained various women’s rights and grassroots organisations focused on driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Its Deputy Executive Director, Mr John Baaki, said the training, which held on Thursday in Owerri, aimed to strengthen capacities to develop policies and enhance online visibility.

Baaki said the workshop was part of WEP’s Women Power 2030 project being implemented in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

“The workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of women and feminist civil society networks and organisations to fight inequalities and advance gender-equal sustainable development.

“The project also aims to ensure that the SDGs are implemented in a sustainable, just and gender-inclusive manner.

“Our expectation is for them to function better, be able to attract more funding and better contribute to the fight to end gender inequality,” he added.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director, Goodwash Foundation for Health and Environmental Protection, Mr Ikenna Anumnu, lauded WEP, the European Union and Women Power 2030 for organising the workshop.

Anumnu said the workshop would strengthen organisational policies and visibility, and enhance women’s rights and civil society organisations’ capacity to effectively contribute advocacy to realise the SDGs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants were trained on “Building a strong brand identity for organisations”, “Leveraging digital media for advocacy and awareness” and “Developing relevant policies and processes for organisations.”

NAN further reports that the participants were drawn from Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Enugu, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Edo, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

One of the facilitators, Mr Ken Ajio, advised the participants to develop a communication strategy and plan for every project and initiative.

“Adopt a good communication policy, utilise multiple channels, and provide a feedback mechanism for all your internal and external communications,” he advised.

A participant and Head of the Legal Unit, Sisters With A Goal Initiative (SWAG), Mrs Nkiruka Obisike, commended the organisers and urged them to sustain the training.

“I learnt about the procedure for formulating organisational policies and how an organisation is run,” she said.

WEP is a Nigerian NGO working to address gender injustices on issues relating to the environment and economic and social rights of women and young people.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwafunke Ishola