AMAOGWUGWU FEDERATED UNION WOMEN WING CELEBRATES AUGUST CONFERENCE 2026

AMAOGWUGWU FEDERATED UNION WOMEN WING CELEBRATES AUGUST CONFERENCE 2026, LAUNCHES N20M LOCK-UP SHOPS PROJECT IN UMUAHIA

It was a celebration of unity, culture, women’s empowerment and community development as the Amaogwugwu Federated Union Women Wing of Umuhu Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State held its 2026 August Conference with funfare.

The colourful annual gathering, held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Ohuhu Secondary School, attracted sons and daughters of the community from within and outside Nigeria, traditional rulers, community leaders, friends, well-wishers and other distinguished personalities.

The event also provided an opportunity for the women to launch a N20 million project for the construction of lock-up shops in the community market, with prominent indigenes and guests pledging their support towards its successful execution.

August Conference, an annual tradition observed by women in many communities across Igboland, traditionally brings women at home and in the Diaspora together to deliberate on issues affecting their families and communities, strengthen bonds of unity, promote peace and identify ways of contributing to community development.

At Amaogwugwu, this year’s gathering combined the traditional elements of the August Conference with a strong emphasis on economic empowerment and sustainable community development.

Dressed in their colourful and resplendent uniform, the women trooped out in large numbers to the venue, creating a carnival-like atmosphere as they renewed friendships, celebrated their achievements and mapped out plans for the future.

The event commenced with an opening prayer, followed by the presentation of kola nut, welcome formalities and other activities.

In her welcome address, the President General of the Amaogwugwu Federated Union Women Wing, Mrs. High Saint Chioma Blessing Lekwauwa, expressed appreciation to God and the people of the community for making the 2026 August Conference possible.

Lekwauwa particularly thanked the Eze-elect of Umuhu Autonomous Community, Dr. John Nwachukwu Onyema, who served as the Royal Father of the Day, and his wife, Ugoeze Dr. Ogonnaya Onyema, the Chief Host.

She also acknowledged the presence and support of Lolo Dr. Evelyn Ifeoma Nwadinobi, the Aka Igbe Di Ya 1 of Umuhu Autonomous Community, who was represented by Rev. Mrs. Oluchi Happiness Aguocha, as well as the village heads, traditional prime minister, council of chiefs, members of the various branches of the women’s wing and other guests.

The President General expressed gratitude to the women for the confidence they reposed in her, her Vice President, Mrs. Chidinma Grace Philip, and other members of the executive, assuring that the leadership would continue to work towards achieving the objectives of the organization.

She said the N20 million lock-up shops project represented an important step towards improving the economic base of the community and empowering the women.

She expressed appreciation to those who had already responded positively to the fundraising appeal and also acknowledged members of the community in the Diaspora who, despite being unable to attend physically, sent in their contributions.

Lekwauwa appealed to the women to remain united, peaceful and respectful, urging them to contribute their quota towards the successful completion of the project. She prayed for God’s blessings, good health and long life for all those supporting the initiative.

Earlier, the Eze-elect of Umuhu Autonomous Community, Dr. John Nwachukwu Onyema, commended the women for organizing what he described as a significant and purposeful August Conference.

He described women as the bedrock of the family and important pillars of society, stressing that the stability and progress of families and communities were closely linked to the role women played in them.

Onyema urged the women to remain resolute, peaceful, united and focused in the pursuit of their collective objectives, assuring them of his full support.

He encouraged the women to use the August Conference not merely as an annual social gathering but as a platform for economic empowerment, education, healthcare, responsible leadership and community development.

The Eze-elect also advised community and women’s leaders to remain humble and wise in their conduct, urging them to exercise restraint in their utterances and promote peace at all times.

He further charged the women to be responsible and law-abiding citizens and to expose acts capable of undermining the individual or collective interests of the community.

Also speaking during the fundraising for the N20 million lock-up shops project, the traditional Prime Minister of Umuhu Autonomous Community, Prince Ben Eberechukwu Okezie (Onowu) commended the women for combining their August Conference with a practical development initiative.

Okezie, who is also the PDP House of Assembly candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency in the 2027 election, pledged the support of the men of the community towards the successful execution of the project.

He said the men would do their best to support the women in implementing the lock-up shops project and other initiatives capable of improving their economic wellbeing.

According to him, practical support for women should go beyond rhetoric and include economic empowerment programmes, skills acquisition, financial assistance to petty traders and farmers, as well as interventions for widows and other vulnerable women.

He commended the women for their initiative and urged them to sustain the spirit of unity and self-help.

High Chief Jonathan Ihesinuloeme Chikwendu, the Agbaranze of Umuhu Autonomous Community, expressed delight at being part of the event.

He described the August Conference as a veritable platform for promoting peace, unity and progress in the community, adding that it also provided an avenue for women to support their husbands and contribute directly to the development of their homeland.

Chikwendu particularly commended the women for embarking on the N20 million lock-up shops project, assuring them that the traditional institution and other stakeholders were solidly behind the initiative.

He promised that every effort would be made to support the take-off and speedy completion of the project.

Rev. Mrs. Oluchi Happiness Aguocha, who represented Lolo Dr. Evelyn Ifeoma Nwadinobi, also expressed satisfaction with the success of the conference.

She attributed the progress recorded in the community to the peace and unity fostered through the August Conference and said the women had begun the year’s programme with fasting and prayers.

Aguocha said the women would sustain the initiative because the annual gathering offered them an opportunity to come together, deliberate and plan how best to support their husbands and contribute to the development of the community.

She prayed for God’s continued protection and preservation of the women and other members of the community to enable them sustain the event.

Similarly, Chief Peter Chukwuemeka Nwaogaraku, the Akaraka 1 of Umuhu Autonomous Community, expressed delight over the successful conference, describing it as beneficial to the entire community.

He noted that the August Conference had continued to promote peace, progress, togetherness and unity of purpose, stressing that the community could achieve greater development when its people worked together.

He encouraged the women to sustain the tradition and continue to use it as a platform for promoting unity and development in Umuhu.

Adding glamour to the occasion was the presence of the Unique Family, a prominent Umuahia-based multipurpose family organization.

Speaking on behalf of the family, its President, Duruoha Princess, said the organization attended the event to identify with the Vice President of the Amaogwugwu Federated Union Women Wing, Mrs. Chidinma Grace Philip who is a member of the group.

Princess noted that women across Igboland had historically used the August Conference not only to celebrate their communities but also to initiate and support meaningful development projects.

She said women had made significant contributions to the development of their respective communities and urged them not to relent in that regard, stressing that unity and oneness remained critical to achieving progress.

She commended Lekwauwa and the entire women of Amaogwugwu for their steadfast commitment to community development and wished them greater accomplishments in the years ahead.

Beyond the speeches and fundraising, the conference featured a rich blend of cultural and social activities.

Highlights included Akuko Uwa, a march-past by the various branches of the women’s wing, cake cutting, presentation of awards to deserving individuals in recognition of their contributions to community development and support for the women, as well as other traditional and social activities.

The event eventually climaxed in an atmosphere of music, dancing and entertainment, with guests and attendees treated to an abundance of food and drinks.

Among the dignitaries who attended were Alexander Ekele Onyema, Chief of Staff to the Eze-elect of Umuhu Autonomous Community who also serves as the Deputy Director of the National Orientation Agency and Head of Civic Values and Democracy Education; Ambassador Obioha Geoffrey Uluocha (Chief Protocol Officer to the Eze-elect); HRM Eze Uzoma Albert, traditional ruler of Otu Obi Autonomous Community in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area; Hon. Ada Patience Onwuka; Hon. Innocent Iweha; and Mirabel A. Goodluck, Managing Director of Sunshine Catering and Event Services.

For the Amaogwugwu women, the 2026 August Conference was more than an annual reunion. It was a reaffirmation of their collective strength, a celebration of culture and family, and a demonstration of their determination to contribute meaningfully to the economic and physical development of their community.

With the launch of the N20 million lock-up shops project and the strong backing expressed by community leaders, the women appear set to make the 2026 August Conference a significant milestone in their continuing contribution to the growth and development of Umuhu Autonomous Community.