Koku-Obiyai Pledges To Partner With Bayelsa NAWOJ.

 

 The  Bayelsa State  Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku -Obiyai, has assured the state branch of Nigerian  Association of  Women  Journalists that  she with her ministry will partner with it to make  sure that the message of  exclusive breastfeeding gets to the nooks and crannies of the state.

Speaking on Wednesday in Yenagoa when the executives of NAWOJ paid her a courtesy visit, the commissioner maintained that it was very appalling that many women in the society recently refused to breast feed their babies in the first hundred days adding that during the days under review, the breast milk carries all the necessary nutrients that the baby needs to develop very well.

Koku-Obiyai who is also a nurse said that a recent survey carried in Bayelsa State showed  that the intelligent quotient of the children were low because of lack of breast milk  asking what the women need the breast milk for if not to give to their babies.

 She said: “The first one hundred days of a child is very important in a child’s life. All the food nutrients are in their right percentage in the breast milk and now we have left breast milk.”

 “Breast milk which is even the cheapest where all the foods nutrients are in their right percentage has been abandoned. Some mothers cannot even breastfeed their children in the public.”

“NAWOJ needs to talk to the women. We have lost it. We need to talk to our mothers. If I even have time, I will join you, thanking NAWOJ for also planning to advocate for the boy child.

 “I’m happy with the work that NAWOJ is doing.  Anytime you have programme, invite me. These are some of the things that the Prosperity Government is advocating. Continue with what you are doing and be rest assured that the ministry is with you. When the time reaches, get across to the director of information and I believe that the state will be a better place to be.”

Speaking earlier, Grace Orumieyefa, the chairperson of NAWOJ Bayelsa State had congratulated the commissioner on her appointment describing her as one who had proven to be a simple leader per excellence who has distinguished herself in the state’s political space.

 She said that Bayelsa NAWOJ had organized programmmes such as "back to the creeks" advocated for peaceful elections in Bayelsa State, spoken to the youths on the need for them to channel their energy towards meaningful ventures.

 Stating that NAWOJ under her leadership has also advocated against election malpractices, violence among others, she pledged that: “my leadership as chairperson will continue to advocate for the rights of women, children and even young boys whose rights are being infringed on.”

Disclosing more activities that the group intends to embark on, she said: “Women play a major role in the development of society and so, we intend to go to creeks to interact with women because a woman to another, would encourage her to be better.”

She asked for more support from the ministry and from  the state government to enable her actualize her plans.