The First Lady of Delta State, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has hosted market women from across the state’s 25 local government areas to the 2025 Year-End Banquet, an event that blended celebration, recognition, and renewed discussions on women’s economic empowerment.
DDM gathered that the banquet was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, at the Government House in Asaba, drawing hundreds of women traders representing major markets and trading associations across Delta State.
The annual event, which has now become a fixture in the state’s social calendar, brought together women who form the backbone of informal commerce, food distribution, and small-scale trading within local communities.
Addressing the gathering, Deaconess Oborevwori described market women as the unsung heroes of the state’s economy, noting that their daily struggles and resilience keep households, communities, and local markets alive.
She praised the women for their ability to sustain families, educate children, and support local economies despite economic pressures, inflation, and limited access to formal financial systems.
According to the First Lady, the Year-End Banquet was introduced in 2023 to deliberately recognise women traders who often work behind the scenes and rarely receive public acknowledgment for their contributions.
She explained that the initiative was not merely ceremonial but part of a broader vision to promote inclusion, dignity, and support for women operating at the grassroots level.
Deaconess Oborevwori highlighted empowerment programmes implemented under her watch, revealing that more than 10,000 widows across Delta State have benefited from various forms of assistance.
These interventions, she said, include financial support, skills acquisition opportunities, and targeted welfare initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable women regain economic independence.
The First Lady pledged that her office would continue to collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to expand support programmes for market women and other informal sector workers.
She stressed that empowering women traders is directly linked to reducing poverty, improving food security, and strengthening local economies across the state.
Representatives of market associations from different local government areas took turns to express gratitude to the First Lady and the state government for recognising their role in society.
Many of the women described the banquet as a morale booster, saying the gesture made them feel seen and valued after years of economic hardship and neglect.
Some participants also used the opportunity to call for improved market infrastructure, access to soft loans, better security, and policies that protect small traders from multiple taxation.
Political observers note that such engagements with grassroots groups have become increasingly significant, especially as women traders represent a powerful voting bloc in many communities.
Analysts say the banquet also reflects a growing trend where the offices of first ladies are being used as platforms for social intervention and soft power influence.
Supporters argue that these initiatives complement government policies by directly addressing the needs of vulnerable groups often overlooked in formal planning.
Critics, however, caution that empowerment programmes should be institutionalised and transparently managed to ensure sustainability beyond individual tenures.
They stress that symbolic gestures must be matched with long-term structural reforms that improve market conditions, access to credit, and social protection.
Despite the debates, the Year-End Banquet was widely seen as a moment of celebration and solidarity, offering market women a sense of recognition and encouragement.
The event concluded with prayers, goodwill messages, and cultural displays, reinforcing the communal spirit that defines market life across Delta State.
As the year draws to a close, the banquet has once again placed market women at the centre of public attention, highlighting their indispensable role in Delta State’s social and economic fabric.
For many attendees, the gathering was more than a festive occasion, serving as a reminder that their daily struggles and contributions are finally being acknowledged at the highest levels of state leadership.