International Women’s Day: N’Delta Women Raise Alarm Over Oil Pollution-Related Fertility Issues
As the world marked the International Women’s Day on Saturday, women in the Niger Delta region of the country, again, registered their grievances and experiences with severe fertility issues due to oil pollution.
Emem Okon, Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, made this known at the opening session of the 8th Edition of the Niger Delta Women Day of Action for Environmental Justice.
She noted that women in the region experience early menopause, which causes problems due to societal and family pressures.
She stated that the 2022 Africa Climate and Gender Review, revealed that African women are fourteen times more likely to die or be severely impacted during a climate disaster, saying women also make up 80% of climate refugees.
She said, “Oil pollution have caused severe fertility issues among women in the Niger Delta, women experience early menopause and these are causing problems because when a woman does not have a child they are traumatized by both families and the society.”
She added that as part of environmental justice organizations, such as the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, and WOMIN Africa, they were playing a key role in promoting environmental justice and defending communities against climate change.
According to her, this year’s International Women’s Day celebration is an opportunity to recognize the role of women in the environmental justice struggle, emphasizing that the theme “Accelerate Action” demonstrates need for swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
In a related development, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day, with a focus on its efforts to empower women in Ogoniland.
In a statement by Stephanie Lezigabari, Special Assistant on Women and Youth Development to the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, she highlighted the various initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality, inclusion, and participation of women in the project.
According to her, HYPREP has been intentional in ensuring inclusivity and greater participation of women in its operations.
She noted that this is evident in the 40% allotment for women on all HYPREP project sites, as well as the empowerment of women in businesses and skills acquisition.
She noted that the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programs have benefited many Ogoni women, with about 40% of them as beneficiaries in the just-concluded skills empowerment program.
Additionally, 60 Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMSEs) in Ogoniland, with more women as beneficiaries, received business grants of N300,000.00 each.
