Sir Cyril Ishmael Hosts Obikabia Women Development Association 2nd August Meeting With Pomp
Sir Cyril Ishmael Hosts Obikabia Women Development Association 2nd August Meeting With Pomp
As the Obikabia Women Development Association 2nd August Meeting draws to a close, Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael reiterates his unwavering commitment to the provision of basic education, primary healthcare, adequate security, infrastructural development of Obikabia and well-being of the entire people
Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael needs no introduction in Isiala Ngwa North local government area and the entire Abia State.
The illustrious son of Obikabia in Isiala Ngwa North local government area of Abia State is a crowd-puller any time, any day, anywhere.
The overwhelming popularity of the consummate philanthropist and USA-based naval officer came to the fore once more during the 2nd August Meeting of Obikabia Women Development Association, which he hosted.
The ceremony held at Obikabia Primary School on Sunday, August 11, 2024 with unprecedented pomp under the distinguished chairmanship of Elder Innocent Emere Ohuonu, former Deputy Rector, Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba (ABSCOHMAT).
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Elder Innocent Emere Ohuonu commended the women for organizing this year’s August Meeting.
He extolled them for sustaining peace and unity in the community as well as doing their best in identifying projects that would have positive impact on the people and development of the community.
He expressed satisfaction with the on-going construction of the 2, 000 capacity ultra-modern Obikabia Women Development Hall project describing it as a commendable feat.
He called on all the sons and daughters of Obikabia, their friends and esteemed guests to support the women generously in order to actualize their lofty dream.
He noted that women bear the brunt of economic challenges bedeviling the nation stressing that the August Meeting would afford them the opportunity to engage, empower, network and collaborate with others to chart a way forward.
He advised them to inculcate good moral behaviour in their children in order to protect them from dangerous lifestyle such as consumption of hard drug, armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution among others.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Eucharia Uloaku Emere, the President-General of Obikabia Women Development Association thanked God for sparing their lives to celebrate their 2nd August Meeting this year and also prayed God to grant some of their members who were not alive to witness it eternal rest in His bosom.
He appreciated the prayers and support of their illustrious sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora, especially Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael (Akajimba and Akuruo Ulo 1 of Obikabia) for his continued magnanimity and hosting of their 2nd August Meeting.
She appreciated the entire Obikabia women, the men, the entire executive comprising Mrs. Blessing Jeremiah (vice president), Lady Glory Samuel (secretary), Mrs. Edith Ugwumba (assistant secretary), Mrs. Joy Ochoiheukwu (financial secretary), Mrs. Ebere Ngozi (Chair Lady, Okpu), Mrs. Ngozi Ajaegbu (Chair Lady, Amawom) and others including members of the planning committee for their total support and commitment towards the huge success of their 2nd August Meeting.
According to her, their August Meeting started last year through the instrumentality of Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael, Sir. Hon. Enyinnaya Ugochukwu and others.
She disclosed that their top priority is to empower the women of Obikabia, educate them on how to educate their families and neighbours, reach people at the grassroots by touching their lives as well as embarking on meaningful development of the community.
She extolled Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael and others for their huge financial support, which she said has yielded remarkable results, especially the construction of their N50million ultra-modern Obikabia Women Development Hall.
She disclosed that the 2, 000 capacity edifice has passed the DPC level with over 7, 000 standby blocks for resumption of work at the site after the August Meeting.
She solicited financial assistance from their husbands, sons and daughters including in-laws, friends and distinguished guests to help them in actualizing their lofty dream.
She said that the association is duly registered and boasts of two different uniforms, which they wear on special occasions and expressed delight that the women of Obikabia under her watch are more united than ever before.
She appreciated the Mother of the Day, Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the First Lady of Abia State for the able way she has been carrying Abia Women along in the affairs of the state and appealed to her to remember them in the next farming season by giving them fertilizers, special species of corn, cassava stems and others.
She lauded the giant strides of her husband and the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) including prompt payment of workers’ salaries and his love for Abia women.
She pledged their total support to his administration and expressed optimism that the ultra-modern Obikabia Women Development Hall project would be completed and commissioned next year by the grace of God.
Mrs. Eucharia Uloaku Emere noted with dismay the way the people of Obikabia have been relegated to the background in the affairs of Isiala Ngwa North local government area over the years despite their enormous contributions to the development of the area as well as the fact that the land housing the local government Secretariat belongs to them.
She pointed out that they have not received any benefit or right in terms of compensation, appointment, employment, contract or chairmanship position of the local government area whether appointed or elected.
She appealed to Dr. Alex Chioma Otti on behalf of the entire people of Obikabia to use his good name and exalted position to influence the appointment or election of an indigene of Obikabia as the next chairman of Isiala Ngwa North local area this time stressing that other communities have occupied the position either as Transition Committee (TC) Chairman or Executive Chairman.
Speaking, the co-Mother of the Day, Chief Mrs. Dame Rose Ishmael Ahukanna commended the women for sustaining the August Meeting, which they started last year as well as their commitment to the development of the community.
She described the August Meeting as a veritable platform for discussing issues affecting the women and improvement of their socio-economic well-being through agriculture, skill acquisition, empowerment programmes among others.
She lauded the President General of Obikabia Women Development Association, Mrs. Eucharia Uloaku Emere for the able way she has been piloting the affairs of the association and assured them of her continued support.
She eulogized her son, Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael for his huge financial support to the women, which has helped them in carrying out major developmental projects in the community.
In his speech, the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa South local government area, Hon. Dr. Nwambuisi Elelenta Elele represented by his personal assistant, Chris Ugochukwu Nwaobia commended the women of Obikabia on their 2nd August Meeting.
He expressed joy that they have transited from ceremonial gathering to empowerment programmes and community projects that would yield tangible benefits to the people.
He urged them to continue in their quest to better their lot as well as unwavering commitment to the development of the community and assured them of his continued support.
He advised them to make judicious use of the fund they realized to actualize their objectives.
In her speech, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Hon. Mrs. Matilda Anyamele praised the women as pivotal agents of change and commended them for fostering love, peace, unity and progress in the community.
She extolled Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael for his continued support of the women and praised God for giving them such an illustrious son.
She said that it is good to have people like him in every society and called on others to join hands with Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael in taking the community to greater height.
She commended the women for embarking on projects that would bring development to the community and for doing the community proud through their August Meeting.
She assured them that Dr. Alex Otti’s administration would continue to carry them along as partners in his New Abia Agenda.
She acknowledged the role of women in the family and society at large and extolled them for mobilizing men and resources to move mountains in the community.
Contributing, Chief Chiemela Kanu, the ‘Enyioha’ 1 and Traditional Prime Minister of Obikabia Nnanji Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa North local government area commended the women for their developmental strides in the community.
According to him, the August Meeting has changed the narrative in their community and made everyone to be conscious of their survival needs and financial obligations to the community.
He encouraged them to sustain their good works in the community adding that they started well with the construction of an ultra-modern Obikabia Women Development Association Hall adding that by the grace of God they would complete it next year and hold their August Meeting there.
On his part, Sylvanus Emere, the husband of Mrs. Eucharia Uloaku Emere, the President General of Obikabia Women Development Association described the Women August Meeting as a thing of great joy and pride saying that it has brought love, unity, peace and progress in Obikabia.
He thanked God for using their illustrious son, Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael immensely to encourage their women to come together and chart a way forward in Obikabia under the impactful leadership of his lovely wife.
He commended the women for their tremendous achievements so far and assured them of their total support.
In a similar vein, Engr. Don Chris Uzodinma hailed the Obikabia Women Development Association for doing them proud through their August Meeting.
He lauded Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael for his unprecedented philanthropism and huge financial support to the women adding that he has surpassed their expectations.
He described him as their benefactor, Ebenezer, sponsor and a blessing to so many people in the community.
He prayed God to grant him all his heart’s desires as well as bless the women for all the good things they have done in the community.
He also thanked Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency for his love for them and wished him well in all his endeavours.
In his speech, the chief host and man of the moment, Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael, the Akajimba and Akuruo Ulo 1 of Obikabia reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the provision of quality education up to tertiary level, primary healthcare, adequate security, empowerment programmes, infrastructural development of the community and well-being of the people.
He highlighted the importance of the August Meeting in creating an opportunity for social interaction, communal bonding and discussion on issues affecting the community.
He urged the women to use the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge in various trades and crafts aimed at improving their well-being and development of the community.
He expressed satisfaction with this year’s August Meeting stressing that they would continue to do it every year by the grace of God.
He appreciated the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Hon. Mrs. Maltida Anyamele for finding time to grace the occasion despite her ever-busy schedule adding that she would take home their message to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR).
He also commended the pivotal role played by Mrs. Nkechinyere Chibueze (Labour Party Woman Leader, Isiala Ngwa North LGA) in attracting the presence of Mrs. Maltida Anyamele to the occasion as well as Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe (Onwa), the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency who arrived earlier and left after sometime for other engagements.
He appreciated his lovely mother, Chief Mrs. Dame Rose Ahukanna and Sir Hon. Enyinnaya Ugochukwu for identifying with the women.
He regretted the chequered history of their community adding that they are poised to change the narrative this time and restore their pride.
He called on the youths to wake up from their slumber and contribute their own quota to the development of the community.
He highlighted the importance of education in the society and urged parents to ensure that they send their children to school.
According to him, education is the key to success. He assured that they would do a lot of things in the area of education by assisting in the payment of school fees for their children, register them for WAEC, NECO and JAMB Examinations as well as assist those who are already in the university.
Coming to primary healthcare, he said that they would provide a health centre to take care of the health needs of the people.
In terms of security, he commended the local Vigilante group in-charge of securing the community for living up to expectations.
He said that security is everybody’s business and urged the people to give vital information to the Vigilante group, the police, the military and other security agencies around for effective policing of the community stressing that there can never be development in an insecure environment.
He thanked the people for ensuring adequate security in the community adding that if their place is not safe that he would not have been coming home up to 3,4 or five times every year for the past five years.
He promised that they would consolidate on that in order to guarantee the development of their place.
He declared their community a no-go area for armed robbers or kidnappers and told them not to venture into their community in their own interest.
He decried the pitiable state of Obikabia Primary School where he attended his primary education and harped on the urgent need to renovate it in a way they would be proud of.
He described it as a challenge that must be overcome and promised to mobilize all those who attended the primary school in order to put their heads together to see how they would raise money to renovate the school because it is in their land.
He described women as the bedrock of any society and commended them for all that they have achieved in the community within a very short time and assured them of his unrelenting support.
Highlights of the occasion were welcome song by Okpu women, march pass by the women, dance by Amawom women, light refreshment, appreciation of the women and dance by various cultural groups.
The August Meeting, which commenced on Thursday, August 8, 2024 and ended on Sunday, August 11, 2024 was a huge success and attracted the presence of distinguished sons and daughters of Obikabia from far and near.
Some of those present were Chief Mrs. Dame Rose Ahukanna, Amb. Innocent Uruakpa, Mrs. Nkechinyere Chibueze (Isiala Ngwa North LGA Labour Party Women Leader), Chukwuma Ishmael (Managing Director, Enyimba People’s Company Limited), His Honour Richard Ohuonu, Hon. Eze Solomon and others.
