Iheanacho Nwogu Reaffirms Maximum Support for Osisioma Ngwa North Women at August Meeting

It was jubilation galore as the Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency Women August Meeting 2024 sponsored by Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu came to a glorious end on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

According to her, breast milk is very important in the life of new born babies, especially that first yellowish substance known as colostrum produced in the breasts of a new mother, which contains a lot of nutrients that helps the baby to resist diseases.

She described breast milk as the number one protection of babies against diseases and urged nursing mothers to give their babies breast milk without reservation adding that when their babies are up to six months they should give them the following food items; eggs, fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, beans, groundnut, soyabean or millet, rice, potato, yam, banana and carrot in addition to breast milk.

She admonished nursing mothers not to give their new born babies pap or ‘akamu’ until they are up to six months because their intestines are still fragile and makes most of them to suffer from frequent stooling, vomiting and so on.

She said that even when the babies are up to six months that they should not be given naked pap because it is no food but ordinary water.

She advised nursing mothers to drink plenty water and refrain from giving their new born babies ABIDEC unless if they are very sick.

She disclosed that nursing mothers can adapt to any position whenever they want to breastfeed their babies.

She expressed deep concern about the health of women saying that some of them face serious health challenges such as breast cancer, cancer of the womb among others.

She advised them not to delay in seeking medical attention adding that their health is very crucial.

She extolled Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s giant strides in the health sector of Abia State stressing that he is poised to resuscitate the various health centres across the state to ensure tremendous improvement on maternal-child health care services, enough staff, adequate drug supply, provision of modern facilities among others.

She regretted that so many women do not know that some of the services they seek in other health facilities are available in the health centre nearest to them.

She used the occasion to let them know about the existence of such services like basic health provision fund for the aged, the vulnerable, mother and child as well as health insurance.

At the end of her interesting talk, Dr. Mrs. Joy Blessing Sunday, the Area Inspector of Education , Osisioma Zone 111 took the centre-stage and delivered another brilliant talk titled, “Women Rising Above the Present Economic Challenges in Nigeria”.

She described women as the pillar of every family and commended them for their unrelenting effort in coping with the prevailing economic hardship across the nation.

She noted that the time when women were pampered and addressed as ‘Oriaku’ in Igbo land is gone adding that today they are referred to as ‘Oso di eje Oku’.

According to her, it does not mean that women are no longer pampered by their husbands rather the increasing economic hardship across the nation calls for all hands to be on deck so as not to leave the responsibility of putting food on the table and provision of other basic necessities only for their husbands in order to avoid their untimely deaths.

She said that instead of staying idle at home while their husbands struggle to make ends meet that they should find a way to support their husbands.

She said that some women struggle so much these days to support their husbands and prayed that their labour would not be in vain.

At the end of the two lectures, the women led by the Constituency Woman Leader, Mrs. Obiageli Kenneth presented their welcome song.

It was followed by a welcome address presented by the Constituency Woman Secretary, Mrs. Obioma Izima on behalf of the entire women of Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency.

In their address, they thanked God for keeping them alive to celebrate their August Meeting this year.

They appreciated their numerous guests for gracing the occasion as well as their Woman Leader, Mrs. Obiageli Kenneth and her team for their quality leadership and tireless efforts aimed at empowering them through various skill acquisition programmes such as production of izal, air freshener among others.

They lauded their illustrious son and member representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu and his wife, Mrs. Chioma Jessica Nwogu for their continued love and support.

They appealed to him to assist them with fertilizer in their farm work as well as uniform to foster a sense of unity and identity among them.

In his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion and Director General, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu Campaign Organization, Hon. Grant Nwankwo expressed gratitude to the women for the honour done him and assured them of his unalloyed support.

He described the theme of the Women August Meeting 2024 tagged, ‘Prosperity and Well-being in Our Families’ as apt.

He acknowledged the pivotal role played by women in the family and development of different communities.

He lauded them for their skill acquisition programme in soap and izal making and urged them to continue providing succour to their families and the less-privileged.

He assured the women that his boss and member representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon Iheanacho Nwogu would continue to justify the confidence they reposed on him through their votes by encouraging them so that they would do more in Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency.

Quoting Proverbs 31:10-29, he encouraged the women to live a virtuous life and be a shining example for other women within and outside the state.

He said that the time now calls for all hands to be on deck and charged them to be hardworking in order to achieve prosperity and well-being in their various families and the entire constituency instead of depending on others.

In his speech, the Chief Host and member representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu commended the women for turning out in their numbers to celebrate their August Meeting as well as voting for him massively in the 2023 election.

He appreciated the Mayor of Osisioma Ngwa local government area, Engr. Israel Nweke for finding time out of his busy schedule to grace the occasion as well as the Royal Father of the Day, HRH Eze Blessing Ekpendu, Senior Apostle Godwin Chimezie (Alanwemadu) and other notable dignitaries present.

He reiterated his unwavering commitment to policies and programmes that would enhance the well-being of his constituents, especially women and the youth adding that so many of them have benefitted immensely from his monthly salary scheme, scholarship award, support for widows among others.

He enumerated some of his on-going projects in Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency such as the construction of 32 shops at Eke Aro Market adding that the market would start bubbling on completion of the project, construction of a Civic Hall at Amavo, scholarship awards to over 40 school children, payment of salaries to over 40 people in his Constituency at the end of every month including distribution of school bags, exercise books and biros to school children to mention but a few.

He said that he would fulfil all his campaign promises to them adding that he has been using his resources to execute some of the development projects and empowerment programmes that his constituents had been yearning for saying that Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency had been grossly neglected over the years.

He assured the women that their August Meeting has come to stay and disclosed that it would be held in open space next year to make it bigger in all ramifications.

He promised to give the women uniform and fertilizer next year and told them to sustain their support for Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s administration saying that he joined Labour Party (LP) to join hands with him to empower and attract dividends of democracy to them.

Highpoints of the occasion were the unveiling of Osisioma Ngwa North Women products by Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu and other dignitaries present, distribution of bags, exercise books and biros donated by Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu to some school children, free-medical outreach, exhibition of agricultural products, cultural dance among others.

In their short speeches after the unveiling of Osisioma Ngwa North Women products including mgbam, akara ji akwu, ugba, izal among others, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu appreciated the women for their efforts in helping themselves and promised to sustain his support for them.

Contributing, the Special Guest of Honour and Mayor of Osisioma Ngwa, Engr. Israel Nweke expressed disappointment with the products saying that they have passed that level.

He challenged them to come up with multi-million naira project like construction of an ultra-modern hall that would go a long way in changing the narrative in the area and see if he would not be proud to identify with them and also invite his friends to come and support them.

On his part, HRH Eze Blessing Ekpendu appreciated the women and encouraged them to aim higher adding that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Speaking, Hon. Onyekachi Nwogu, former councillor representing Amavo Nwogu Ward 17 commended the women of Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency on their bold initiative. He expressed the hope that their 2025 August Meeting would witness a remarkable improvement.

He eulogized Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu for sponsoring the occasion adding that he is representing them well in the State House of Assembly.

Thereafter, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu distributed bags, exercise books and biros to some school children. Some of the beneficiaries were Divine Chimeruo and Prosper Obinna.

In a vote of thanks, the Woman Leader of Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency, Mrs. Obiageli Kenneth expressed profound gratitude to God for making their August Meeting this year a huge success.

She appreciated their numerous guests for gracing the occasion despite their other engagements.

She lauded their Chief Sponsor, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu for his unparalleled magnanimity and esteemed presence, which added glamour to the occasion and attracted other notable personalities from Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency including the capacity Mayor of Osisioma Ngwa local government area, Engr. Israel Nweke, Hon. Grant Nwankwo, HRH Eze Blessing Ekpendu, Senior Apostle Godwin Chimezie (Alanwemadu) among others.

She thanked the women immensely for turning out in their numbers as well as for their love, loyalty, overwhelming solidarity and unwavering commitment to the super success story of the memorable occasion.

She appreciated the Mayor of Osisioma Ngwa local government area, Engr. Israel Nweke for challenging the women to come up with a multi-million naira project adding that his motivation spirit has awakened the sleeping giant in them.

She assured him that from now till April next year that they would meet him to solicit financial support from him to enable them to purchase a land to build an ultra-modern Civic Hall, the first of its kind in the state.

She prayed that God would touch him and others who have promised to support them to give them money to acquire the land.

The occasion climaxed with great merriment and attracted the presence of distinguished personalities including Super High Chief Iheanyi Iheanacho, Hon. Ochiegbu Samuel, Comrade Emmanuel Onwukwe (CSO to Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu), Hon. Onyekachi Nwogu among others.

In a chat with newsmen at the end of Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency Women August Meeting 2024, the legendary political colossus and indefatigable Constituency Coordinator of Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu bared his mind on the occasion among other sundry issues. Excerpts.

I am Super High Chief Iheanyi Iheanacho. I am the Constituency Coordinator of Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu. I hail from Aro Ngwa Ward 4 in Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency.

Yes. I am highly impressed with his performance. If he is not living up to expectations I do not think he would have been made the Deputy Whip as well as the House Committee Chairman on Transport. After his first tenure, he would go for another one because of his robust legislation and quality representation. At the end of his second tenure in the State House of Assembly, we would support him to aspire for a higher political position in the nation because he has done us proud. For instance, he is the Chief Host of today’s occasion. He also distributed bags, exercise books and biros to school children during the occasion. He is building so many shops at Eke Aro Market, a house for one of his constituents whose house was gutted by fire in Ward 5 as well as a Council Hall at Amavo. So many people are under his payroll. At the end of every month they receive alert ranging from N20, 000. 00 to N50, 000.00. It is not easy. He is really trying and we are so happy and proud of him.

It was a very wise decision because if he had remained in YPP he would not have been able to do most of the things he has done for us so far. He ventured into politics because of his passion to better the lot of the people and if he had remained in YPP, I do not think that objective would have been realized. Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency had been marginalized over the years by past administrations in the state. So his desire to change the narrative and attract development to his Constituency made him to leave YPP and joined the ruling Labour Party in Abia State under the people-oriented leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s (OFR). And since he joined the Labour Party he has has continued to deliver democracy dividends at our doorstep. We are solidly behind him and wish him long life, good health and God’s continued protection.