By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, Oct. 9, 2018
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has said that the role of women in fostering harmonious living was fundamental to peace building in any society.
Ikpeazu said this on Tuesday during a summit organised by the Office of the Wife of Abia Governor, for wives of Abia Traditional Rulers at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
The Governor said that women had the capacity to facilitate mass education and disseminate information on peace building initiatives at the grassroots.
Ikpeazu described the summit as an opportunity to strengthen peace building in the state, by encouraging women to be active participants in promoting a culture of peace.
He commended the organisers of the occasion for providing an avenue for the state government and the wives of Traditional Rulers in Abia to interact.
Ikpeazu expressed confidence that it would deepen the understanding of women across the state on issues concerning government policies and programmes aimed at developing the communities in Abia.
In her speech, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, wife of Abia governor, said that the importance of peace and security in the development of the Abia could not be over-emphasised.
Ikpeazu urged the participants to take up the responsibility of preaching peace in their various communities, “especially now that electioneering has commenced “.
In his remark, Chief Chinatu Njoku, the Coordinator of Abia Community Social Development Project, charged the wives of traditional rulers in Abia to ensure that their communities take advantage of the state government’s intervention programmes.
“These programmes will give the communities the opportunity to record increased development as well as sustainably increase access of the poor to social and natural resources.”
Earlier, Prof. Roseline Ndimele, a resource person, said that “it is the duty of the wives of traditional rulers to support their husbands in presiding over the affairs of their communities to boost development.
“Their responsibility entails applying wisdom in counseling and encouraging the traditional rulers to introduce causes that will impact positively on the community and state at large.”
Mrs Queen Dick, Chairman of Association of Ndi Ugoeze Abia, commended the state government, adding that the occasion had provided opportunity for the importance of peace in Abia to be emphasised.
Dick said that the effective contribution of women in peace building had the capacity to propel socio-economic development in communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the event themed, “Ugwu Eze 2018”, featured presentation of awards and a lecture titled “The Role of Ugo-Ezes in an evolving society”.
