Bags Outstanding Leadership Award From ISWAI

By Ikenna Orioha

Member who represents Enugu South Rural Constituency and Deputy Chief Whip, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Obiajulu Princess Ugwu, has called for the full implementation of 35% Affirmative to give more impetus for women to involve in leadership positions with a view to being part of decision making.

She said the opportunity would help to strengthen economic empowerment of women who she said are agents of change.

Hence Ugwu also urged government, parents and community to ensure that female children are properly trained in education, skills such as sewing, hairdressing, fashion and designing, catering, bakery, trading, marketing, as well as allowed to occupy elective and appointive positions, feats she believed could expose women and empower them economically.

The lawmaker stated this when she addressed Imo women during the 2024 International Women's Day Celebration organized by Imo State Women Ambassadors International (ISWAI), in Owerri, recently.

Ugwu reiterated that a woman has a lot of values to the community, because the woman builds the home, cares for the family, as well as contributes hugely to the growth and sustenance of the society, hence desires total economic strength. 

"Women need to have money. And we must do everything necessary to empower ourselves economically as women. Women should rise, come into politics, occupy leadership positions. And one of the best ways to do so is to encourage, support your fellow women to enable them succeed. The  Government which is 90% controlled by men should give women 35% Affirmative, such would help to empower women", Ugwu harped.

Ugwu who remarked that she is an entrepreneur,  humanitarian,  development and gender advocate and social analyst, mentioned that she has used her office to train over 200 persons in her constituency on skills such as paint making, electrical/technical, fashion and designing, among other empowerment skills which she said is yielding positively.

She thanked ISWAI for recognizing her with an Outstanding Leadership Award, a medal which she promised to uphold, saying the theme of the 2024 Women's Day Celebration, "Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress", was apt.