The Women Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Abia State Chapter, has held its maiden conference in Umuahia, calling on women to embrace their roles as ambassadors of peace, custodians of culture, and partners in the development of society.
The conference, themed “The Woman of Peace in a Noisy World”, took place at the JAAC Building, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, Abia State.
In her address, the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, commended the women for their wisdom, strength, unity, and their vital roles in sustaining peace and stability within their families and communities. She praised their commitment to nurturing homes and supporting societal development through their various engagements.
The Governor’s wife, who was represented by Mrs. Eucharia Mmeregini, wife of the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, encouraged women to remain active custodians of Igbo culture by intentionally promoting the use of the Igbo language in their homes and daily interactions. She further urged them to champion peace, love, and unity in their families and communities, noting that such values are essential for sustainable development and harmonious coexistence.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, former MD/CEO of ABSSAA, thanked God for the grace to attend the conference. She commended the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Chioma Alex Otti, for her support and encouragement of women, noting that her initiatives have inspired greater female participation in politics and leadership. She advised women to remain united, uphold peace, preserve Igbo cultural values, and contribute meaningfully to societal development.
Earlier in her welcome address, the State Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Women Wing, Abia State Chapter, Dcns. Ijeoma Clara Okere, FNIM, commended the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for his visionary leadership, people oriented policies, and remarkable developmental strides across the state.
She noted that under Governor Otti’s administration, Abia State has witnessed significant improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and environmental sanitation, restoring confidence among the people and positioning the state on a path of sustainable growth and development.
According to her, the governor’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and service delivery has continued to earn him widespread admiration and support from Abians both at home and in the diaspora.
Dcns. Okere also lauded the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for her humanitarian initiatives, advocacy for women and children, and unwavering support for programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable groups in society.
She described the First Lady as a compassionate mother whose interventions in healthcare, social welfare, women empowerment, and child development have positively impacted many lives across the state.
The Ohanaeze Women Leader further extended her appreciation to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, for his leadership and dedication to promoting the unity, welfare, and collective interests of Ndigbo across Nigeria and the diaspora.
She noted that his administration has continued to strengthen the voice of the Igbo nation and advance initiatives aimed at fostering peace, development, and cultural preservation.
Dcns. Okere equally commended the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Abia State Chapter, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu, for his commitment, visionary leadership, and relentless efforts in repositioning the organization in the state.
She praised him for providing purposeful direction and creating an enabling environment for the women wing and other organs of the organization to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Abia State.
Speaking on the essence of the conference, she described Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as more than a socio-cultural organization, noting that it represents a collective responsibility to preserve the language, culture, identity, and values of the Igbo people.
She emphasized that women remain the custodians of culture and the first teachers of children, stressing that the future of the Igbo language and heritage largely depends on the commitment of mothers and families.
“One of our core responsibilities is to ensure that our language, culture, and identity are preserved for future generations. It is in our hands to ensure that our language never dies”, she stated.
She explained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo continues to promote peace, unity, honour, dignity, and self respect among Ndị Igbo, while encouraging the use of the Igbo language in homes, schools, cultural gatherings, and community events.
Highlighting the mission of the women wing, Dcns. Okere said the group is committed to strengthening unity among women, promoting cultural values, and supporting one another through skills acquisition, agriculture, trading, and educational programmes, as well as partnering with community leaders to foster peace, development, and social cohesion.
She urged women across the state to remain active participants in governance and democratic processes, emphasizing the need for greater female involvement in decision making and community development.
The women leader also encouraged eligible citizens, particularly women who are yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), to do so and participate actively in future elections.
“Abians, let us join hands together and support leadership that is working for the good of our people and the future of our children”, she said.
“As women of substance, let us continue to promote peace, support good governance, and uphold the values that will guarantee a brighter future for our communities and generations yet unborn”.
Addressing some of the challenges facing the organization, Dcns. Okere appealed to well meaning individuals, corporate organizations, and government agencies to support the women wing in acquiring a bus to facilitate mobility across the 17 local government areas and 184 wards of the state.
She explained that the vehicle would enhance the group’s outreach programmes, advocacy campaigns, cultural activities, and grassroots engagements aimed at promoting the Igbo language, empowering women, and strengthening community participation.
In her keynote address, Deaconess Chinasa Kalu Iche urged mothers to train their children in ways that will make them useful to society at large. She reminded mothers of their duty in their homes to promote peace and unity, and to ensure that the Igbo language is preserved and not allowed to die in their homes.
Also speaking, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Abia State Chapter, Dr. Chukwuemeka C. Okwuonu, reiterated that the organization is a non-political body dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Igbo language, culture, and heritage across communities and society at large. He emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo serves as a unifying platform for all Ndị Igbo, irrespective of political, religious, or social differences.
Dr. Okwuonu stressed the importance of cultural identity, noting that the survival of any people is strongly tied to their language and traditions. He therefore called on Ndị Igbo, especially parents and community leaders, to take deliberate steps toward ensuring that the Igbo language is spoken, taught, and sustained within homes, schools, and public gatherings.
He further encouraged members of the organization to remain committed to peace, unity, and collective progress, while supporting initiatives that promote education, youth empowerment, and cultural revival within Abia State and beyond.
In their separate goodwill messages, the State Women Leader of Anambra State Chapter, Prof. Nkechi Joy Onyekwere, and the Special Assistant on Culture and Creative Economy, Mrs. Matilda Anyamele, among others, highlighted the benefits of speaking the Igbo language and preserving cultural heritage.
They encouraged women to be more intentional in supporting one another, strengthening unity, and taking deliberate steps to ensure that Igbo language and culture are preserved and passed on to future generations, stressing that the survival of the culture depends largely on collective responsibility and consistency in practice.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs. Charity Oti commended the women for their patience, cooperation, and active participation throughout the conference. She appreciated their commitment and contributions, noting that their presence and engagement greatly contributed to the success of the event.
The conference ended with a renewed commitment by members to champion peace, cultural preservation, women empowerment, and active participation in community and state development, while sustaining efforts to preserve the rich heritage and identity of the Igbo people for future generations.
