By Victor Nwegede
The annual August meeting of women in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State took center stage this week, with calls for grassroots mobilization, family stability, and active participation of women in shaping the state’s political and socio-economic landscape.
Speaking on behalf of the wife of the Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku, emphasized the significance of the meeting as a platform for women to share knowledge, strengthen family values, and drive community development.
“I want to congratulate Her Excellency, a woman with a heart of gold, for what she is doing for the women of Ebonyi State
"Since 2023, she has consistently organized August meetings to teach women how to care for their families, their communities, and themselves covering issues such as cancer, menopause, and grassroots empowerment," Iyioku said.
She noted that the initiative, which cuts across the 16 wards in Ishielu and beyond, has created deep impact in households and communities.
“Once you capture the grassroots, you have captured everything,” she added, while commending Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his support and his 40% affirmative action policy for women in government.
Princess Iyioku further urged women to seize the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration exercise as an opportunity to secure their political voice ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Your voter’s card is your power. Without it, you cannot effectively support His Excellency or Her Excellency.
"Women must register, transfer their polling units where necessary, and encourage their children to do the same,” she stressed.
The Executive Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Mrs. Peace Ifoma Agwu, described the meeting as a huge success, thanking the Governor’s wife for her inclusive approach to governance and women empowerment.
“We are so happy. The women of Ishielu are grateful for this good gesture and the recognition we enjoy under Her Excellency’s leadership,” she said.
In her goodwill message, Chairman of the occasion, Mrs. Deborah Okah, noted that August remains a sacred month for women, urging them to embrace their roles as agents of peace and progress.
“Women should inspire positive change like the Ebonyi First Lady. Holding an exalted position should not be used to relegate one’s husband, but to promote unity and progress,” Okah advised, while highlighting the First Lady’s role in facilitating women’s access to both appointive and elective positions such as Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, among others.
Our correspondent reports that the event reinforced the First Lady’s vision of strengthening families, empowering women economically and politically, and entrenching peace and unity across Ebonyi communities.
