Women in Abia State, in their usual custom, gathered to celebrate the 2023 Abia Women’s August Delegate Conference (AWADEC), with the theme, “Abia Women,Dare To Dream”.
The event which doubles as the maiden edition of the wife of the state Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti,was held at the Ochendo International Conference Centre, Umuahia.Abia State.
Cross section of women at the 2023 AWADEC
AWADEC which is an annual event, is a necessary conceptional mechanism and a vital fora that converges women across the seventeen Local Government Areas of the state, to discuss critical issues, tap and exchange good ideas helpful in developing various communities, families and society at large.
This year’s meeting was not different, as it featured women displaying various skills, most captivating was the display of various farm produce, cultivated by the women, dance and match past displays.
The event had guest lecturers taking the women through topics that are helpful in nation building, while x-raying the theme, “Abia Women Dare To Dream”.
The women during their match past
The first lecture, “Salvaging the Abia Child”, was taken by a Counselling Psychologist, Dr (Mrs) Orieji Uka, while the second lecture,” Accelerating Gender Equality For Women In Abia State”, by Her Worship, Blessing Enyinnaya, emphasized on the need for every form of discrimination against women to be stopped and advocated for women to be given a chance in politics.
The third lecturer, Mrs Isioma Wokocha, who spoke on the “Impact of Domestic Violence On Women In Abia State”, outlined the dangers of domestic violence, saying women are the worst hit, calling on relevant bodies to assist in ending the issue of domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women.
Displaying their farm produce
The keynote speaker, Prof Edith Nwosu, advocated for women to be included in the scheme of things.
In an interview, a former Arochukwu Local Government Area Chairman, Mrs Obidiya Nkem Okoro, said the women’s August building is very essential, stating that its impact to the development of the state is enormous.
Mrs Obidiya Okoro
According to her, the meeting further teaches the women how to take care of their families amidst the present economic challenges, expressing happiness to witness the maiden edition of the August conference under Mrs Priscilla Otti.
Also, the Women’s Wing Secretary of Labour Party Bende Local Government Area, Mrs Stephanie Alilionwu, said she is happy to witness the 2023 AWADEC, under a new administration in Abia state, stressing that the women have been voting for change for the past years without their votes counting, but appreciated God that their votes counted in the last gubernatorial election.
Speaking about the importance of August meeting, she maintained that it affords the women to come together, make new friends,interact with one another, learn new things and above all, showcase the rich cultural heritage of their various localities.
Mrs Alilionwu, however, pleaded with the government of Abia, to include a high percentage of women in governance.
Similarly, the State president of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Abia branch, Mrs Agnes Okoroafia, in her view, urged women to replicate whatever they learnt at the 2023 AWADEC in their respective August meetings, urging them to engage speakers that would take the women on meaningful topics, instead of gathering to make merry alone.
Mrs Agnes Okoroafia
She said the yearly August meeting is very impactful,as it avails the women the opportunity to gain knowledge that is needed in managing their families, community and society at large, pointing that the importance of the meeting cannot be undermined.
Meanwhile, Mrs Okoroafia hailed the wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for mobilizing the women in a high number, despite the prevailing economic challenges in the country, eulogizing the women for painstakingly putting every schedule aside to attend the auspicious occasion, stating that they have proved that the contributions of women are sacrosanct to a productive and progressive society.
