13 Receive Awards As Ijaw Ladies Mark Anniversary

Thirteen Ijaws from within and outside Bayelsa state Saturday were conferred with various categories of awards as the Izon ladies association (ILA) marked her 41^st anniversary celebrations in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

The award recipients, comprises eight female Ijaw students who backed first class in their various institutions of studies and five Ijaw women for being excellent role models and mentors to their peers in Ijaw land.

In her opening remarks, the president of the Yenagoa branch of ILA, Dr. Mrs. Grace Koroye reiterated that the aims and objectives of the association are to promote and protect the Izon culture, foster unity, solidarity and harmony amongst members and to produce a conducive forum for the cross – fertilization of ideas amongst members as well as other like–minded organization within Izon land. She stressed that members of the body is open to women who are either Izon by birth or marriage.

Keynote speakers in symposia organized as part of activities to commemorate the event, captioned “from girls to women: the ILA mentoring programme” and “Izon widow inheritance: the way forward”, respectively, the vice Chancellor Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state, professor Mrs. Ongoebi Etebu and Mrs. Margaret Botei enjoined Izon women to continue in their quest to bequeath lasting legacies to the Ijaw female folk through honest and progressive mentoring. The duo advised Ijaws to do away with obnoxious traditional practices of inheritance.

Meanwhile the founding member of the ILA, Rev. Mrs. Jane Alek has advised the association not to change the name ILA.

Mrs. Alek made this clarion call during the thanksgiving service of the association held Sunday at the Christ New and Living way Ministry, Yenagoa, stressing that there is reason for every name. She said before the name ILA was given God revealed to her the right name for the association.

Photo Caption: From left Rev. Mrs. Jane Alek, founding member and Dr. Mrs. Grace Koroye, President ILA, Bayelsa State Branch