A group of women drawn from across Warrap State last week underwent a three-day training in leadership and mentorship to enable them to participate in leadership roles.

The training was organized by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social welfare under the theme; "Empowering women leaders for Transformative Change” and was funded by the United Nations for Development Program (UNDP).

The State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Akoon Madut Tong, speaking during the start of the training, said, "All women should have equal access to social privileges. That is health, education, protection, and power-sharing across and beyond Warrap state."

He said the workshop would review the government’s engagement of women. 

Lucia Bassa, the UNDP social cohesion officer said empowering women with knowledge enables them to lead their people and improve security among communities. 

"So we want you to receive this skill of knowledge to make you be able to lead your people in a good way,” Bassa said. “You will be able to maintain peace and manage some conflicts within communities. You will be able to be role models and you will be able to be the voice of the voiceless.”

Juliana Luka Maduria, a women representative who is also the state Minister of Animal Resources, said women empowerment is the work of both government and women groups who have to advocate for it. She lamented the minuscule numbers of women in leadership in the state.

"Your number is encouraging in the community according to me and we are facing a lot of challenges as women. You see, in seventeen political posts in the state, we have only two (female) ministers, although the former governor was a woman in Warrap State, we are still struggling,” she said.

The workshop was designed to equip women with skills and knowledge so that they can participate in leadership roles at all levels in the state.