Northern Women�s Expo slated for next week

| Friday September 19, 2014 15:06

The expo will attract women entrepreneurs from the North of the country who will showcase their services and products. During a press conference held on Tuesday, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Kelebogile Kgabi, said preparations for the exposition are at an advanced stage. 

She said government is committed to empowering citizens through programmes such as poverty eradication, youth funding and gender equality including economic empowerment programmes for women.

She explained that government’s move to invest 10 percent to the initiative has boosted many women’s lives.

“To demonstrate this commitment government has pledged 10 percent of the alcohol levy collection to women’s economic empowerment programmes and this greatly addressed the issue of women’s lack of access to credit from mainstream financial institutions,” she said.  Kgabi further said they had concluded the 15th national exposition, which had covered the south and some parts of the central district, while northern exhibition will cover the Central district, Ngamiland, Chobe and North East.  She noted that the exposition was split into two to ensure that as many women as possible are enrolled.

She also said their ministry holds women’s economic empowerment in high regard.

“Poverty is still the main contributor of gender inequality. It therefore follows that by empowering women we are contributing to a stable and equal society. When women succeed in all endeavours of life the family flourishes and young ones are assured of good upbringing and education,” she stated.