Confronting cost of living crisis amongst rural women: ECOWA engages Aruogba community women

By Isaac Eranga 

Echoes of Women in Africa (ECOWA) in Collaboration with Trippinz Care New York Inc, 1000 Shades of Women International and Extended Arms Diamond Inc, on October 18th,  commemorated the International Rural Women's Day with Dialogue and Dance at Ohen Palace in  Arougba Community in ward 2 Oredo LGA, Edo State. 

Following the theme on  “Rural women confronting the global cost-of-living crisis”,  Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese and Dr. Teddy Igori of Trippinz Care Foundation Edo State ( represented) hosted the women to a  dialogue and dance to celebrate them as women resilient in food production and food processing for subsistence. 

In her welcome remarks, the Founder of ECOWA- Dr Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese said the essence of the intervention program was to sensitize the women about proven ways of combating the high cost of living plaguing Nigerians especially women in rural communities. She called on women to be resilient, productive, creative, and innovative. 

"There is need for women to develop coping strategies in order to adapt to the economic situations presently bedeviling Nigerians. This will help reduce the high level of vulnerability among women", she said.

The program afford members of Edo Emergency Response Team the opportunity to sensitize the women on the need to prepare for emergency. 

On health of the women, the  Edo Medical Response Team led by Ms. Kate Ibeanusi, shared health emergency situations and urged the women to prepare for emergency by  registering in the state  health insurance scheme that is cost effective in any health emergencies. She also shared the free hot lines of 112 or 937 to call in emergency situations for  free  ambulance service to save lives. These interventions are by the Edo State Government. 

"Nobody unintentionally prepare for emergency. So we need to make plans to address it incase it happens. We need to prepare for it. The best time to prepare for emergency is when it has not happened. 

"Calling the emergency number, is calling for help. Once you call, a qualified professional will attend to you. Hospital will not ask for money except if there's need for you to be admitted. When you call, provide the necessary information such as location and nature of problem", she said.

Also speaking, the Ohen Ogba N Ukhure N Ogun N Amen- Ohen Jeffery Odowa Omosomwan Omoregie, who was represented by Mr. Lucky Osazee Omoregie gave a brief history of the Aruogba community. He said the community was established 9 centuries ago before Oba Eweka the Ist. According to him, Aruogba means shrine of Ogba. He said the Ohen is a representative of the Oba.

"There was a crisis in Benin that the deity called Ogba said for the Oba and in return, the Oba said he must be honoured as the Iyekogba. So we the Iyekogbas are special in the Benin palace. Iyekogba means standing behind the Oba. Because we are firm, that is why we are called Aruogba", said the Ohen.

The Ohen thanked ECOWA for organising the program and called for more of such programs. He said the palace is renowned for settling marital cases, stealing related cases, and so on and so forth. "We don't discriminate; we welcome complaints", he added.

The Arougba Community women in the dialogue shared the impact of the  economic crisis on their wellbeing,  diet, and nutrition, making them adopt  survival strategies  and   improvising with what they have available to feed. They  skip meals,  depend more on   carbohydrates because protein such as eggs, fish,  meat and milk are unaffordable. Rice they claim is now a luxury they can only  afford for the family once a week. They call on the State government to reduce the cost of food items to avoid starvation.  

The program ended with dance and  sharing of food items to the women while the Ohen , the  religious traditional head of Arougba Community concluded the event with prayers.