The Abia State Government has announced that the grand finale of the 2025 August Meeting will take place tomorrow, Tuesday 26th August, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, with women empowerment set to take centre stage.
The annual Women’s gathering, which has held across all 17 Local Government Areas of the state, will culminate in a colourful event expected to draw dignitaries from within and outside Abia.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, explained that the grassroots engagements led by the Governor’s Wife, Lady Priscilla Otti, had empowered women and strengthened local initiatives.
He confirmed that Governor Otti, members of the State Executive Council and other government appointees would join invited dignitaries and guests from across the country at the event.
“From information available, there are a lot of visitors from outside the State who will attend the ceremony”, he Commissioner emphasized.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Maureen Ahukwa, described the August Meeting as part of the local parliament for women at the grassroots, noting that Lady Priscilla Otti had played a leading role in mobilising women and providing direct support.
“She gave each local government area 80 bags of rice, one million naira to empower women”, Mrs Ahukwa disclosed.
The Commissioner further revealed that the First Lady intends to extend more empowerment initiatives to Women and youths during the grand finale.
She also announced that partners such as Honeywell Flour Mills and other organisations had already arrived at the ICC, venue of the event while competitions in cooking, dressing and other skills would feature prominently.
“We are going to have competitions, there will be gift items and of course, Her Excellency, who has been driving this vision, is out to empower women”, she said.
Mrs Ahukwa while highlighting the theme of this year’s meeting, “United in Strength and Empowered for Purpose”, stressed that it underscores the importance of unity, which lies in women working together and making collective decisions that positively transform their communities.
