The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Côte d’Ivoire, Mrs. Aïchatou Mindaoudou, inaugurated on July 29, 2016, a Quick Impact Projects (QIP) financed by the United Nation Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) for the benefit of “Wowêla ‘‘, a cooperative of the women of Niellé, a locality in the northern Region of Tchologo, 690 km from Abidjan.

This cooperative regroups 27 local women organizations. The project which costs about 24 million CFA includes facilities such as the office of the cooperative, a training room, toilets and a storage room for products.

Leaders of women associations’ as well as hundreds of members took part the ceremony. The Special Representative seized the opportunity to ask local women to keep working hard to preserve their unity. She promised that UNOCI will continue to support initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and peace. She also praised the unswerving commitment of those women who, through their cooperative, have decided to join their forces to achieve an objective.

"The cooperative is an excellent place to experience community life. Women of Niellé have understood clearly and very early that concept. Therefore they gave-up their whole-hearted commitment to conducting this project undertaken at their own initiative and by using their own means," said the Chief of UNOCI.

The President of the Women Association, Marie-Claire Ouattara expressed the pleasure of the beneficiaries to receive such an important project from UNOCI. She said that the facility will greatly improve their lives and will economically and socially empower women of the department. She recalled that on April 2015, Ms. Mindaoudou took part in the launching ceremony of Wowêla’s agricultural activities undertaken by a group of 610 women from 27 organizations from the region.

For his part, the Mayor of Niellé, Alassane Ouattara, highlighted the positive actions of UNOCI, which generously provided support, information, and guidance to the population in various areas of the region.

As for the Sub-Prefect of Diawala, who was representing the Prefect of the Department of Ouangolodougou, he thanked the UN Mission for all its actions to promote peace and reconciliation. He then asked the women to work to be empowered, so they can earn the trust of people” he said. “Work does always pay”, he said.

The ceremony ended with the visit of the building and stands.