2012 IMO WOMEN’S DAY CELELBRATION

The annual Imo Women’s Day celebration for 2012 has come to an end in Owerri at the Heroes square along Concorde road, with a call on parents to redefine family values as the neglect of family has given rise to societal ills like kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution, Boko Haram, cultism, etc.

The governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who stated this after receiving award of excellence from the women of Imo State noted that the family remains the bedrock of a strong viable State and urged Imo women to continue to build a united and a prayerful family.

The number citizen of Imo State, assured women that the policies and programmes of the State government would continue to focus on the improvement of the lives of Imo people especially Imo women and children and advised them to make peace a watch word in their homes.

He commended the first lady and Imo women for the WODDI monthly prayer project which he said is the miracle for the progress, peaceful co-existence and total transformation being witnessed in the state and urged them not to relent, with the assurance that all the projects his government embarked upon with the view of leaving a superlative legacy will soon be completed.

In her address, the chief host of the ceremony, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorochas, wife of the governor of Imo State, while speaking on the theme of the celebration, “Women: Together We Build” opined that when women come together the State will be able to achieve its dreams and aspirations.

She described Imo women as peaceful, courageous and hardworking and called on them to practice the virtue of togetherness while calling on government to absorb more women in governance.

With the passion she initiated the project; ‘She Needs A Roof Project’ (SNARP) the first lady of Imo solicited the well to do in the State to assist in sheltering the indigent widows living in shanties

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Agbaso commended the wife of the governor for uplifting the Status of women in the State.

Sir Jude Agbaso said the sense of charity in building houses for indigent widows has encouraged citizens even the government to think of remembering the unfortunate people in society.

He challenged women to live by the abiding message of the new spirit of unity, hard work, peace and oneness as well as keeping their families together thereby lending a helping hand in community, the State and nation building.

In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Anne Dozie,  the commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ichie Uche Best Mbanaso, and the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Planning, Prince Charles Onuoha congratulated Imo women for the innovation on the history of the celebration and urged them to use the occasion to showcase their God-given potentials

The Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Mrs. Lilian Asuzu and the President of ISOPADEC women association, Mrs Theresa Ohanwuba commended the State government for making education free for Imo Children in the State and pledged their unalloyed support.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Leo Stan Eke while pledging to build three houses for three indigent widows in the State through SNARP described women as the engine of the house and stressed the need for them to continue to play a positive role for their children to emulate

The SA to Her Excellency on Events, Mrs. Marie Ihediwa and the wife of the former Ideato South TC Chairman, Mrs. Nwokeji while appreciating the efforts of the wife of the governor towards women in the State said women generally have done well even in politics and challenged them to strive in keeping the family bonds which will go a long way in addressing some of the ills in society

The occasion which was celebrated in a grand style with pomp and pageantry featured among others: match past, food exhibition, novelty football match, Mrs. Imo Contest, cutting of Cake, special kola presentation by Imo women, Sack race, cultural dances, award of prizes and an award of excellence on Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Benjamin Uwajimogu

In the contested events of the day, Ikeduru, Ideato North and Abo Mbaise LGAs came first, second and third respectively in the Cultural Dance, while for Match past, Ideato North was first, Ehime Mbano came second and Mbaitolu took third position; for Agricultural and Food Exhibition, first position went to Ideato North, second position came to Owerri municipal and Ahiazu Mbaise carried the third position and in the AKUKO UWA women in the Judiciary came first followed by Development Initiative for African Women with second position while Orlu zone bagged third position.