Homecoming: Chima Amadi fetes Imo women, communities during August meetings

The sweeping wave of solidarity, show of love, unflinching support, and unalloyed loyalty that greeted the homecoming of Umuekwunne- Ngor- Okpala born serial entrepreneur and avid scholar of note, Dr. Chima Mathew Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu), by Imo women across different communities during the just concluded August meeting, is better witnessed than told.

It was more than an August meeting, but a homecoming of an illustrious son filled with renewed hope, consolations, and firm assurances of a better future. One of a collective drive to change the ugly narrative with determination, resilience, and vigour.

The highly respected scholar and business maverick, Dr. Chima Amadi, revered as a beacon of hope and empowerment kick-started the 2024 Women August Meeting with a visit to Imo communities where thousands of women had tenaciously waited for their own beloved son to address them.

During the women August meeting of Ntu Autonomous Community, Amadi addressed over 8, 000 women at the community’s town hall, urging them to continue their strategic role and contributions towards community development and participate very actively in the politics of Imo State to ensure that their concerted efforts and strong advocacy for good governance are not undermined by the enthronement of poor and bad leadership.

He, however, challenged the young ladies among the women to sustain the good leadership examples of their mothers by preserving the beauty of their culture for posterity sake.

Amadi, a philanthropist donated N4million and an additional N2million as souvenir for all the women present at the meeting, even as he paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Ntu Autonomous Community

He also reaffirmed his commitment for a paradigm shift in both leadership style and approach as he sets a new agenda to champion radical development through collaboration and cooperation of the people.

From Okigwe to OnuImo, Mbaise to Ngor- Okpala; from community to community, from one church to another, Dr. Chima Amadi raised the bar of social awareness of the August meeting so high through proactive engagement, pragmatic leadership, and interactions with Imo women across all divides as he felt their impulse, heartbeats and pains while proffering solutions with a workable template on how to address the man- made challenges.

Emphasizing the prominent role of women as strategic development partners and agents of change, Amadi recalled the importance of August meeting as a veritable tool in community development and how women used the opportunity it provided to drive development in Igboland leading to the establishment of schools, hospitals, and other infrastructural development through public – private partnerships.

Regretting that past and even successive governments at all levels have unfortunately neglected the development of local communities in pursuit of personal gains, interest of their family members and that of their political cronies, using the people as a political chessboard who are only important during elections. Backing his words with action, Mazi Gburugburu donated the sum of N7million to support the women’s impressive development initiative and an additional N3million to be shared among all the women present as an August meeting parting gift.

He was later accompanied by the Eze Nwosu to the Comprehensive Secondary School, Umuekwunne, for the grand finale of his one-week statewide tour to Imo women across different communities for the 2024 August meeting.

In his honest efforts and intent to uplift lives and leave the women (people) better than he met them, Amadi visited over 15 communities as he contributed immensely towards elevating their conditions with a donation of over N80million to support their individual efforts and group’s pet projects.

The 2024 Imo Women August Meeting was remarkable for a number of reasons. It put smiles on the faces of Imo women across different communities, appreciated their strategic roles as agents of change and development partners. It was a homecoming of their illustrious son, an enigma of a leader.

Amadi did not only put smiles on the faces of Imo women, he awoke their consciousness to demand for good governance and accountable leadership as the statewide tour during the August meeting birthed a new political mass movement- The Mazi Gburugburu Organisation with ‘the Oge Erula Mantra.’

As the heartwarming political dust he raised during this August homecoming finally settles, the footprints, beautiful memories and Mazi Gburugburu’s August odyssey will no doubt, resonates and re- echoes in the hearts of many for years with empowerment of over 15 brand new motorcycles and cash donations to the 11 ward leaders, and an Council coordinator of The Mazi Gburugburu Organisation.

Ngor- Okpala Imo State-born South African based businessman, Amb. Promise Okereafor (Oba Na South), described Amadi as a rare breed, an intellectual of international repute, a boardroom strategist with the leadership charisma, pedigree and track record of successful private and public outings within and outside the Nigerian socio-economic and political landscape.

“He is a man on a mission to change the narrative for the better, and I wish him well in all his endeavours and aspirations,” Oba Na South said.

The dignitaries at the event include immediate past Minister of Education for State, Emeka Nwajiuba, member representing Aboh- Mbaise /Ngor-Okpala Federal Constituency, Dr. Matthew Nwogu, immediate past senator that represented Imo North Senatorial District, Sen. Frank Ibezim, who once represented Ihitte Uboma State Constituency, High Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, Michael Brown Njoku, and Bylden Amajuruowu.