Women Professionals, Female Political leaders,Traders,Academics,Delegates and Associations of different Women groups,Rural and Urban women from all parts of Abia state, Wednesday, gathered at the International Conference Center Umuahia for the Abia Women August Delegate Conference (AWADEC)
organised by the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu.
The 2019 edition of the yearly August Meeting has as its theme: Balance for a better Abia.
Speaking while flagging off the programme, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who charged the women to acquire various skills, urged them to show commitment in the interest free Micro Credit Scheme empowerment programme of the state government for the economic growth of the families and businesses.
“Every woman in Abia must learn one skill”,Ikpeazu said.
While appreciating Abia First Lady for setting agenda for the women in various local government areas through the August meetings, Governor Ikpeazu expressed belief that the programme will be an avenue for the women to make better impacts that will be beneficial to their families and society at large.
The governor emphasizied the importance of women in nation building adding that they complement the menfolk as well as form the bedrock of development in their various communities.
According to him, leaders of religious groups equally have a role to play in the development of families and the society at large to address the rising cases of drug abuse, gangsterism and other social vices among the youths.
He further charged the women to live up to their responsibilities as home builders in addition to educating, nurturing and monitoring them from childhood.
The Convener and Wife of the Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu in her speech said the AWADEC was birthed five years ago with the aim of creating a paradigm shift that would propel the women at the Community level and groups to seek self realization, become empowered psychologically,socially and economically.
According to the wife of the governor, the annual August meetings afford the women the opportunity of discussing issues that affect them collectively within their immediate environment as well as setting agenda that would enable them enrich their discuss at the community levels.
She said the AWADEC under her watch instituted a revolving free interest loan scheme where hundreds of women from the 17 LGAs of the State who operate small businesses have benefitted and thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his immense support to the cause of women and children in the state.
The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Engineer Chinedum Orji in his remarks, urged the women to drive revolutional movement in sociocultural growth through the August meetings.
Orji,represented by the member Representing Ikwuano state Constituency,Hon Stanley Nwabuisi assured that the State Assembly will give speedy attention to laws affecting women and children and commended the wife of the governor for raising the bar through her vision.
In her address earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Development,Mrs Ifeyinwa Uwasomba, while appreciating governor Ikpeazu for appointing women in various positions of trust,urged the women to make use of the opportunities afforded them as change agents to impact positively on their families and society at large.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ndidi Okereke noted that August meetings are beginning to enjoy a transformation with intellectual blend under the wife of the Governor,describing the event as a perfect place for blending ideas that will engender family development and societal growth.
The 5th Abia Women August Delegate Conference featured the inspection of food and farm produce exhibition by women from the 17 LGAs while Governor Ikpeazu and wife Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu in company of the wife of the Deputy governor, Lady Vivian Okochukwu among other dignitaries inspected the exhibition.
