Abia state governor, Alex Otti has said that people and society are better when women necessary support to exhibit their numerous vital roles in the immediate and wider human community.
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He buttressed this saying that history has also sufficiently demonstrated that women are the pillars upon which the superstructures that guarantee the enduring progress of every society are rested.
He said this while declaring open the 2024 annual Abia Women August Delegates Conference (AWADEC) in Umuahia, the state capital. He also noted that the day provided the slot to learn from the womenfolk who have shown great capacity at mobilisation, organisation and resourcefulness.
The event which featured lectures, exhibitions and cultural displays attracted women from all walks of life across the state.
Otti also said that at a time of serious economic difficulties as this, the managerial capacity of women has proven very useful in the survival of many families hence the day also provided opportunity to thank wives and wives for always offering reliable lifejackets through their resourcefulness.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Utilising Growth Opportunities Amid Current Economic Challenges, wife of the governor, Priscilla Otti said it speaks reality of the times.
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“I would rather see the economic upheavals in the land as an opportunity to turn from our past bad behaviours, start afresh and with persistence, reclaim our place in the world.
“If we have the courage to move away from the false expectations of old, I can assure you that we shall begin to see a drastic turnaround in our economic fortunes”.
While assuring women that government will support anyone of them that shows interest in home gardening and that there will be the Abia version of the home garden competition envisioned by the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She also noted that the event provided opportunity for Abia women to reflect on the last one year and thanked the Governor for believing that Abia women can move mountains if given opportunity.
For State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Blessing Felix who posited that it is the women that bear the brunt of the economic challenges, stated that the conference will afford Abia women the chance to engage network and collaborate.
Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu described the theme of 2024 AWADEC as apt adding that the state government being gender sensitive recently empowered 10, 000 nano and micro businesses in the state with a billion naira as majority of beneficiaries being women.
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