This year’s August meeting in Abia State, took a different dimension as PZ, Veleta, Nestle among other reputable companies in Nigeria, stormed Umuahia to witness and felicitate with Abia women, wishing them a successful deliberation all through the meeting.
August meeting which is an annual event of women of the South East, brings together each year, Igbo women to their country home, to discuss issues that border on their welfare, as well as embark on projects that are beneficial to their various communities.
The 2019 August meeting in Abia, kick-started with a flag-off ceremony held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, with the theme “Balance for a Better Abia”.
This event attracted women across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, top government functionaries, including the Governor of the State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and the wife Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu.
The Governor in his message to the women, charged them to be good ambassadors of their homes, raising their children up in a Godly way so they can be good examples in the society.
Gov Ikpeazu urged the women to use this year’s August meeting profitably and ensure they learn a skill, so that they can have what to fall back on any time.
The Abia governor, however, supported the Women Micro Loan Scheme with #20 million. A scheme which give financial assistance to women to start a small-scale enterprise.
Speaking with some attendees, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Lady Uzoamaka Ikonne, said she is elated to witness the 2019 August meeting, saying that August meeting afford women the opportunity to celebrate womanhood and to awake the consciousness of their duties as women.
In her opinion, she said August meeting is a time women wake up to their duty, knowing who they are from creation, as well as add value, beauty to their families, society and communities in order to have a balanced society.
Lady Ikonne said she would take seriously the charge of the Governor by taking her role seriously and promising to teach other women of her community on the theme of the year and the need to build their homes.
She advised upcoming mothers to emulate the virtues in mothers they consider as role models, so they won’t regret their motherhood.
According to her, ” Aspire to be good mothers who will make positive impact in her society, as whatever you do today will affect your tomorrow”.
Her Ministry of Women Affairs counterpart, Ugoeze Ezinne Ifeyinwa Uwasomba, let out the cat from the bag, saying Abia women would smile in this year’s August meeting, as they have lined up so many goodies for the women of the state.
Ugoeze Uwasomba disclosed that her Ministry has been training people on different skills ranging from cake baking, ICT, soap making among others, across the three senatorial zones of the state of which women are top beneficiaries.
The wife of a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mrs Queeneth Erondu, called on mothers to build a strong home, train their children in good manners and ensure they pamper their husbands.
She advised women not to relent in learning a skill whether they are graduates or not, as it would give them what to fall on anytime, revealing that she is going to learn how to sew, as she has already learnt how to make hair.
For Dr Precious Chinyere Emeka, a former Aid to the Governor, said every woman should have a livelihood, imbibe good morals and above all, bring out quality time for their families because parenting is not a part-time business but a full-time.
She said mothers should watch what their children do,the friends they keep and most importantly what they watch, as the advent of social media has brought threat to the future of our children.
Some companies spiced up the event, as they engaged the women in dance and cooking competition, as well as giving out freebies to the women.
Representatives from the various companies that came to put style in this year’s August meeting, poured out their best wishes to the women,praying for the meeting to bring unity, progress among the women.
Mr Dim Kelechi of PZ Nigeria, said they decided to support the women’s August meeting because the role of a woman cannot be overemphasized in the society.
Mr Kelechi noted that since August meeting is a forum for women and with all their products that are
women friendly, the company decided to mark present at the 2019 August meeting flag-off.
While dropping the company’s wishes to the women, the Sales Manager, PZ Umuahia, prayed God to grant the women success in their respective meetings.
In their various wishes, the Brand Manager, Veleta Fruit Drink, Nduka Onyeka, the Area Sales Manager PZ Cussons, Mr George Akpulonu, Nestle representative, John Chinelo and Stanley Goin of Thermocool, wished the women more life,unity and a successful deliberation.
Noting the important role of mothers, they wish them strength as the duties of a woman is very tasking.
They said their companies encourage and support the women’s August meeting with a slash in the prices of their goods at the flag-off ceremony,urging them to always go for products that are healthy
Highpoint of the event was the official opening of 2019 August meeting, March pass by the women,exhibition of Agricultural products among others
The women who would further go to their respective communities to observe their meetings, were seen jubilating home with alot to eat and drink as well as consolation prizes from the different companies present.
