Economic empowerment of women is one sure way to help us build back better post COVID – Vuniwaqa

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the economic empowerment of women is one sure way to not only alleviate poverty, but to help us build back better as a nation post COVID.

While speaking during the graduation of 64 Women from the Makoi Vocational Centre, Vuniwaqa says the human development, economic and business gains from empowering women are substantial.

She adds greater gender equality means we as a country will be associated with better education and health, higher per capita income, faster and more inclusive economic growth, and greater international competitiveness.

Vuniwaqa says women’s contribution to care work, especially unpaid is massive yet largely unrecognized and the COVID situation saw the demand of care work grow and the burden mostly shifting to women.

She adds she hopes that care work will be adequately remunerated and recognized with its growing demand.

Vuniwaqa says the Makoi Women’s Training Centre allows developmental opportunities to the underprivileged and disadvantaged women of our society which includes, widows, single mothers, women with little or no formal education, women from broken families, and women from all cultural and religious background.

The centre has successfully enabled hundreds of women to attain skills and knowledge to become economically active, some even able to start their own businesses and employing other women.