Rivers

Date of branch inauguration: 16^th May , 1987

1987 – 1989 

Chairperson – Hon Justice Mary U. Peter – Odili (JSC) 

Vice Chairperson – Hon. Justice Daisy W. Okocha (Retired Chief Judge of Rivers State) 

Secretary – Rev. (Mrs) Gloria Akara (nee Kumbin)

Treasurer – Mrs Esther Igho-Joe

Publicity Secretary – Mrs Julie Tamuno Koko

2009 – 2011

Chairperson – Lady Florence Fiberesima

Vice Chairperson – Hon. Ngozi Paul Ajayi  

Secretary – Pastor Mrs Ngozi O.  Odukwe-Ighosevbe

Assistant Secretary – Mrs Gift Sovins 

Treasurer – Magistrate Helen Hardy

Assistant Treasurer – Mrs Nnenna Igbokwe

Publicity Secretary – Mrs. Florence Itamunoala

Assistant Publicity Secretary – Hon. Justice Augusta Uche K. Chuku

Financial Secretary – Mrs Tonia Osademe

Assistant Financial Secretary – Mrs. Nancy Obinwa

Ex Officio – Hon. Mrs Inime I. Chinwenwo – Aguma 

Ex – Officio – Hon. Justice Douye C. Green

2011 – 2013

Chairperson – Mrs Eucharia Somiari – Pepple

Vice Chairperson – Pastor Mrs Ngozi O. Odukwe – Ighosevbe

Secretary – Mrs. Evelyn Membere – Asimiea

Assistant Secretary – His Honour Cynthia Ezra – Jumbo 

Treasurer – Nnenna Igbokwe 

Assistant Treasurer – Jane Don – Pedro 

Publicity Secretary – Hon. Justice Augusta Uche K. Chuku 

Financial Secretary – Mrs Anthonia Osademe

Assistant Financial Secretary – Mrs Sarah Emmanuel Apia

Assistant Publicity Secretary – Ms Fortune Ada Ndah  

Ex Officio – Lady Florence Fiberesima

2013 – 2016

Chairperson – Mrs. Florence Itamunoala

Vice Chairperson – Mrs. Tonia Osademe 

Secretary – Hon. Justice Augusta K. Chuku

Assistant Secretary – Mrs. Adata Bio Briggs

Treasurer – Mrs Nancy Obinwa  

Publicity Secretary – Mrs Mariam wokocha

Assistant Publicity Secretary – Mrs. Veronica Obuzor

Financial Secretary – Ms Endurance Dan – Jumbo

Assistant Financial Secretary – Mrs. Dada Emere – Johnson  

Ex Officio – Mrs. Eucharia Somiari -Pepple 

Ex – Officio – Mrs. Evelyn Membere Asmiea

2016 – 2019

Chairperson – Mrs. Tonia Osademe

Vice Chairperson – Mrs. Bibian U. Okogbule 

Secretary – Mrs. Nnenna Igbokwe

Assistant Secretary – Mrs Theresa Okoye – Akpa 

Treasurer – Lady Blessing Ahunnaya 

Publicity Secretary – Mrs. Adata Bio Briggs

Financial Secretary – Pastor Dada Emere – Johnson

Welfare Secretary – Ms. Fortune Ada Ndah   

Ex Officio – Mrs. Florence Itamunoala 

Ex – Officio – Hon. Justice Augusta K. Chuku

Engendering Legislations:

FIDA Rivers participated actively at all stages in the drafting of the Bills and formal signing into laws 

1. Rivers State Abolition of Female Circumcision Law:2001
2. Rivers State Dehumanizing and Handful traditional Practices law: 2003
3. Rivers State reproductive health Services Law: 2003
4. The Child Right Law: 2010
5. Assent to the Establishment of  both lower and higher divisions Family Court in the State
6. Women Inheritance rights
7. Currently we campaigning and mobilizing support for the Adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 in the State 

Influence on Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation

The Association through its work on children and the vulnerable in the State influenced the transformation of the Social welfare department to a full – fledged Ministry in Rivers State under the name “Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation” with Hon. Mrs. Inime I. Chinwenwo Aguma, a past Chairperson of FIDA Rivers as the very first Commissioner in 2007. 

Democracy and Governance Programme: 

FiDA Rivers in partnership with Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) empowered women from various Local Government area to participate effectively in leadership at different levels of governance through its programme on building grassroots democracy, formation of peer groups Increased participation in Community governance Voter education, advocacy and lobbying on genders issues etc. These programmes successfully yielded the nomination and fielding of a number of women as flag bearers in party elections as well as the actual election of women into the Rivers State House of Assembly and ward Councillorship positions. 

Publications: 

We have through our print media reached out and mentored many women groups and individuals. Some of these publications include 

• The Plight of the Nigerian Widow
• Women know your Rights (Courtesy Norwegian Human Rights Fund)
• Women in Governance (1998) – (Courtesy CEDPA)
• Marriage in Nigeria (1999) – Courtesy CEDPA)
• Women Empowerment in Politics (2000) – (Courtesy USLWV)
• Harmful Traditional Practices 
• Violence Against Women (UNIFEM)
• Engendering legislative issues
• Empower Magazines
• Laws Affecting Women in Rivers State
• Women who dared to make a difference through the Courts  
• FIDA Rivers News letter

Scholarship Schemes: 

The Scholarship scheme was launched in 1989 to assist disabled and indigent children in the State to achieve their reams in education and has been effectively administered till date. Presently we have 5 indigent children (2boys and 3girls) as beneficiaries of the scheme. 

Humanitarian/Empowerment Services

FIDA Rivers renders humanitarian services to inmates of the Remand Home, Old People’s Home, Special School for the Handicapped, Children’s Home and other Orphanages and Homes in Rivers State. We also offer Career Guidance and Counselling Services, Seminars, Life Skills Training for Primary and Post Primary Students in the State. We have also empowered women with monetary grants to start off small scale business in the State. The most recent was the economic empowerment with monetary grants ranging from 30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) to 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira)of 30 women in celebration of our 30^th anniversary in 2017. 

Building Coalition

FIDA Rivers in recognition of the necessity to garner critical mass support and partnership in pursuit of the accomplishment of its set objective developed the strategy of engaging partners from all sectors of the State like Government Agencies, Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Security Agencies, Civil Society groups like the Medical Women association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, 

Enlightenment/Sensitisation Campaigns:

a. Harmful Traditional Practices 

b. Violence against Women &Children 

c. Women Building Peace 

d. Discriminatory Taxation Law 

e. Plight of Nigerian Widows

f. Voter Education 

g. Women Inheritance Rights 

i. Reproductive Health Rights of Women 

h. Maternal Mortality 

j. Women Empowerment 

k. Types of Marriages in Nigeria 

l. Laws Affecting Women in Rivers State

m. Post Legislative Advocacy

n. Women in Politics

o.    Gender Equality 

p. Enlightenment Campaign on HIV etc.