The Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to empowering women through sustainable economic, agricultural, and entrepreneurship programmes aimed at improving the lives of women across the state.
Mrs. Otti made this known at the 2026 Ukwa West August Women Meeting held at Obehie School premises. She was represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu.
She described Ukwa West as a unique local government area in Abia State because it is the state’s only crude oil-producing council. However, she stressed that the area’s greatest strength is not its oil but the resilience, hard work, and determination of its women.
Mrs. Otti praised the women of Ukwa West for their important contributions to agriculture, family welfare, and community development. She said the theme of this year’s August Meeting, “Abia Women Empowered to Thrive,” reflects the government’s vision of creating more opportunities for women to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
She noted that investing in women is one of the best investments any society can make, adding that this belief continues to guide the programmes of her office and the Safe Tent Care Initiative.
Speaking on agriculture, Mrs. Otti recalled the recent distribution of fertiliser to rural women farmers across the state. She assured participants that the support would be expanded through the provision of improved seedlings, quality farm inputs, financial assistance, and other practical measures to increase food production and improve household incomes.
She also urged genuine farmers to register in the ongoing farmers’ registration exercise. According to her, the Abia State Government’s Farmers Support Programme is already assisting more than 18,000 farmers across the state’s 17 local government areas with improved agricultural inputs.
Beyond agriculture, she said her office has continued to empower women through skills acquisition programmes, start-up equipment, financial support, and entrepreneurship initiatives under the Safe Tent Care Initiative and the Ahioma Women Economic Empowerment Programme. She said these programmes have helped thousands of women establish and grow successful businesses.
Mrs. Otti assured the women that the state government would continue to invest in their growth by creating more opportunities, providing relevant skills, and giving them the support needed to succeed.
She also thanked Governor Alex Otti for his confidence in the ability of Abia women, saying his leadership has created new opportunities and restored hope to thousands of women across the state.
In her address, the Wife of the Mayor of Ukwa West Local Government Area, Mrs. Diddy Dike, described the August Meeting as more than a social and cultural gathering. She said it is a celebration of the strength, resilience, wisdom, and great potential of Abia women.
Mrs. Dike noted that the theme, “Abia Women Empowered to Thrive,” highlights the need to equip women with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and resources required to become agents of positive change in their families and communities.
She commended Mrs. Priscilla Otti for her compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare and empowerment of women, saying her various initiatives have continued to improve the lives of women across Abia State.
She encouraged participants to use the August Meeting to strengthen unity, promote peace, support one another, mentor younger women, and contribute to the development of Abia State.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mrs. Pamela Edith Ebere, said the exhibitions, discussions, and cultural displays organised for the event would inspire women to take bold steps toward a future where every woman in Abia has the opportunity not only to survive but also to thrive.
In his remarks, the Mayor of Ukwa West Local Government Area, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Alex Otti’s administration to implementing inclusive policies, strategic interventions, and people-oriented programmes that will continue to uplift and empower women across Abia State.
