Abia women has been advised that August Meeting is not a forum for extravagant show of affluence but has been patterned as a means of addressing challenges in community developments and as a period when women seek the face of God, fast and pray.
The immediate-past Abia First Lady, and wife of the Senator representing Abia Central, Chief Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji handed down this advice Friday during this year’s edition of the Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association Women’s Wing conference/August Meeting.
Mrs. Orji noted “It is no longer news that August Meetings present opportunities for women in various communities across the southeast to return home to their own and devise means of not just ensuring the development of our communities but our homes.
“Though various communities may have bad ideas about August Women Meetings, ours is different because it is a time when we come together as sisters, discuss issues that affects us, and provide lasting solutions to them, thereby contributing our quota to the development of our most cherished homes and communities”.
According to Mrs. Odochi who is also the President General of the women, the goal of forming the Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association is to help build a flourishing, strong, united and peaceful Ibeku society for which all sons and daughters of Ibeku Land can be proud of.
Popularly called “Osi na ulo mara nma”, Odochi further disclosed that the Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association Women’s Wing which has existed for 21 years “has achieved a lot in the area of educating our women not just in skill acquisition but in all areas of life, especially on health issues because we realized that it takes a healthy mother to breed a healthy home”.
The theme of this year’s Annual August Women Conference is “A Godly Woman in Time of Economic Challenges” she said is apt at this time when things are difficult and a lot of families are not finding it easy.
“We hear about a lot of killings, raping, rioting, kidnapping etc in the society, so there is need for us as mother’s to be prayerful and hand over the situation of God.
“The purpose of this year’s August Meeting is to remind ourselves that we are change agents and must align ourselves to the changing in the society. Let me also remind all Ibeku Women that we must play a role in the development of Ibeku Land and we must rise up to it.
“Our August Women Meeting is in line with the unfolding global initiative where women all over the world are now recognized and appreciated as partners in progress and not merely housewives. The Ibeku Egwu Asaa Women have been elevated to embrace Community development in line with giobal best practices”, she said.
In her speech, the wife of the state governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu described women as eritable tools for community development and growth.
She said the annual women conference has brought many development projects to the communities, as well as paradigm shift in many obnoxious traditional practices.
The theme of the year’s conference, she said is apt and would motivate women to be good resource managers, wealth creators and family builders and commended Mercy Odochi Orji over her ability to mobilize Ibeku women for the good of Ibeku land in particular and Abia in general.
Also speaking, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Engr Chinedum Orji noted that the annual ritual of women August meetings have been avenues for women to contribute their quota towards community development, and assured the women of his support.
The wife of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in Abia, Mrs Uzoamaka Ikonne also expressed her excitement over the occasion, assuring to identify with them.
The chairman of the occasion Chief Okey Ndukwe in his welcome speech commended the women over their developmental aspirations and thanked God for promoting peace in Ibeku land
The Ibeku Traditional Prime Minister, High Chief Uche Akwukwegbu (BAWAS) and Chief Okey Onyemuwa (Okey Technical) were among those who graced the occasion.
