Mrs Otti charges Abia women to be
enterprising
The wife of the Abia State Governor
Mrs Priscilla Otti, has charged women and young girls in the state to key into the Women Enterprises Development Initiative of the present administration to sustain their motherly support in their families.
Mrs. Otti, who spoke at the Women’s August meeting in Ohafia Local Government Area on Tuesday, emphasized that Governor Alex Otti is dedicated to transforming Abia into a symbol of hope and progress for women and their children.
The First Lady of Abia, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Chinwe Onyeukwu, stated that the state government has initiated efforts to transform Abia in order to ensure that every citizen, especially women, can feel the government’s impact.
Mrs Otti, commended Ohafia women for their resilience and achievements which has lasted for many years through the unity the August meeting brings.
She said, “Your presence here signifies not just the importance of tradition but also the power of collective action, the community spirit that you have nurtured over the years
“Today I celebrate the women of Ohafia and Abia State who have been committed and supportive of the rebuilding agenda of the state government. One of the corner stones of the present administration is the transformative infrastructural development, which is evident across the state
“We have initiated several road construction and rehabilitation projects ensuring that our people can move with ease and their businesses can flourish.
The roads linking our rural areas to major cities are being expanded bringing with them new opportunities for trade, improved healthcare access and education because infrastructure alone is not enough.
“We know that true strength of any society lies in the people particularly the women who bear the brunt of every burden in the society.
This is why through various initiatives we are equipping our women just like is being done today with the skills, resources and opportunities they need to excel in their choosen fields.
“The government is also working to ensure that women have greater access to credit facility that no woman with a viable business idea is held back
“One of the flagship programmes the Women Enterprises Development Initiative, which a lot of people have keyed into is designed to provide financial support and vocational training for Women across the state enabling them to start and run their own businesses, whether in agriculture, trade or craft, our women are being given the tools to become self-reliant and economically independent”.
In a remark the wife of the Mayor of Ohafia Local Government Area Mrs Obidiya Onuoha, said the August Meeting has always been a time of reflection, unity, and progress for the women of Ohafia LGA.
She added that the the introduction of the Skill Acquisition Program to this year’s meeting is a bold step to empower women for a better fam live.
She said,”We are investing in our future by equipping our women and girls with practical skills that will not only enhance their livelihoods but also contribute to the overall development of our community.
The skills they will acquire here are more than just tools for economic empowerment—they are pathways to self-confidence, independence, and a brighter future. As women, we have always been the backbone of our families and ‘communities. This program is designed to strengthen that backbone, to ensure that every woman and girl in Ohafia can stand tall and proud, knowing that she has the ability to shape her own destiny”.
Also speaking the Mayor of the council, Chief David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, said the meeting provided an opportunity for the women to share ideas which will enable the council to better advice the state government on how to assist the mothers to ensure that the dividends of democracy gets down to hinterlands.
“We also used this opportunity to organize trainings for our women both old and young who were taught some skills that will be beneficial to them as organize their daily life.
“So advice the participants to put skills they have acquired to work and ensure that they better their lives and they will happy that Abia has a governor who is interested in the welfare of the women”, he added.
The highlight of the meeting was an interaction between the governor’s wife and the women and the inspection of products produced by participants who were trained in Millinery, cosmetics, pastries, soap making and continental and African dishes.