Assistant Editor (South East), CHRISTIAN NWOKOCHA, who recently witnessed conferment of honour on deserving Abiriba women by the community’s traditional ruler, writes on the significance of the occasion.
Some women were recently honoured by Eze Kalu Ogbu (IV), Enachioken of Abiriba Kingdom, and his wife, Ugoeze Florence Ebele Kalu Ogbu, on the occasion of 2014 Abiriba Women’s Day celebration held at Akahaba Stadium.
The personalities honoured included Elder Inyang Anya, wife of Professor Anya O. Anya; Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke (OON), Professor Lady Okpete Kanu, Hon. Justice Mrs. Onyekachi Aja Otisi, Commodore Uche Enyidiya Onuma, and the Controller of Prisons Abia State, Ukwuori Ndukwe Kalu.
Others are Linda Oyeni Ugbaja (Chief Magistrate), a United States of America-based Medical Director, Dr. Ureh Nnenna Lekwauwa; former Director of Education in Abia State, Elder Mrs. Kalaria Anyaeru; Managing Director of Techno Oil Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Obi (MON); and Elder Mrs. Nene Ikodiya Uche.
Professor Anya, chairman of the organising committee, who spoke at the occasion, said the idea of celebrating the womenfolk every November 25 was borne out of the history of the people of Abiriba.
“It was the women acting together in unity and in a spirit of creative protest that brought back the kingdom from the precipice of impending disaster to the path of responsible leadership. We salute the prowess and patriotic zeal for peace and development of our women.”
The occasion, he said, was for the Abiriba traditional ruler to use the prerogative of his office to honour outstanding women who have made reasonable impact in the town and the larger society.
His words: “These outstanding women have made exceptional contributions in education, judiciary, military, social services and in the Nigeria’s economy. We salute them not only because they are great achievers, but in doing so they have brought their feminine best into the mix. In honouring them, the Abiriba Kingdom is once more pointing the way to the future – the indispensability of our womenfolk as outstanding leaders in the development of the society.”
Okereke-Onyiuke, one of the personalities honoured at the occasion, has worked in more than 20 reputable establishments, including the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nigeria International Investment Council (NIIC), African Development Bank (ADB) Economic High Command, and United Nations Economic High Command, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations. She was a former voting member of the International Olympic Committee for International Baseball Federation 2008.
She told TheNiche that she was happy having been honoured by the people of Abiriba.
“As a team-builder and leader with a proven track record and having played a role in the development of Nigeria’s economy and beyond, I feel fulfilled that these contributions I have made globally as a woman cannot be forgotten in a hurry. To be honoured by a community made up of achievers gives me joy and I want to state that for whatever reason by a way of recorded achievements as a woman, this does not confer an authority over a man because men are meant to be in charge as our husbands,” she said.
Another recipient, Linda Oyeni Ugbaja, a Chief Magistrate and the first female Magistrate in Abiriba, has a master’s degree in Law and was the best graduating Law student in Abia State University (ABSU). She joined ABSU judiciary after years of private practice as a lawyer. She said that among numerous awards bestowed on her for the development of justice and a fair society, “the honour given to me by my people is the most cherished honour”.
Going by a publication in the brochure of the event, titled “Abiriba Kingdom: Our women, our pride”, over the years, women have played remarkable roles in the development of the community, including ensuring that their children go to school.
TheNiche learnt that it is celebration of this role that a day is set aside yearly for the recognition of women in Abiriba Enachioken Kingdom.
, CHRISTIAN NWOKOCHA, who recently witnessed conferment of honour on deserving Abiriba women by the community’s traditional ruler, writes on the significance of the occasion.){kind=link}