Women’s Capacity Building, Economic Empowerment Key to Curbing Divorce, GBV in Nigeria: Catholic Association Official

To this end, Lady Osamgbi pointed to empowerment initiatives undertaken by CSU.

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, she said, “we empower women with skills. Some women were trained in sewing, hair making, dress making, and snacks production. We distributed sewing machines and grinding machines to women so they could support their families.”

In the September 20 interview, Lady Osamgbi further reflected on CSU’s “Catch Them Young” initiative, aimed at mentoring youths on issues such as drug abuse, violence, and career choices, while also promoting good parenting practices among women.

She said good parenting is part of CSU’s teachings, with women trained to exchange experiences and strategies for raising children in difficult times.

Also speaking to ACI Africa during the September 20 event, the National Chaplain of CSU, Fr. Lazarus Mary Ishiaku, called for collaboration between the government and the Church to support families.

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Fr. Ishiaku argued that while the Church provides spiritual and moral guidance, the government can step in where resources are limited, particularly in empowering women economically.

“The family is a very important unit, and we are all products of families. There should be serious collaboration between the Church and the government. Where the Church cannot go due to resources, the government can come in, to support,” he said.

The Nigerian Catholic Priest continued, “These women already put resources together to empower others who are not doing well financially and those without jobs.”

He explained that CSU members have supported women by providing items such as grinding machines and sewing machines to less privileged families, both within and outside their membership.

“Sometimes you see them giving grinding machines, giving sewing machines to the less privileged, not only among their members but even those outside their group. So, if the government supports them, they will do more and achieve much greater results,” Fr. Ishiaku said.

Also speaking to ACI Africa on September 20, CSU President at Holy Trinity Parish of Abuja Archdiocese emphasized prayer as the foundation of family life.

“They say a husband and wife who pray together stay together. It’s for us to pray ... the CSU encourages couples to regularly seek God’s guidance, especially in moments of difficulty, as a way of strengthening their bond and fulfilling the mandate given by Christ,” Lady Stella-Maris Ukuevo said.

Lady Ukuevo noted that grounding young Catholic women in faith and the doctrines of the Church prepare them for future roles as wives and mothers.

“They say, catch them young. When you catch them young, you pray together, and you know about the church, the church’s doctrine. We have a lot of the church’s doctrine that our parents come together and pray. I believe in prayer, and that’s what the church believes in, prayer,” she said.

CSU was founded in 1994 at St. Agnes Parish of Nigeria’s Lagos Catholic Archdiocese.

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Today, the association has presence in seven Dioceses across Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja Archdioceses, and the Dioceses of Abeokuta, Bomadi, Warri, Nnewi, and Minna.

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.