By Donald Udeh
The wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru has commended Ebonyi women for their resilience in the face of the country ‘s economy downturn. She likened the situation to the straight -jacketed situation the Israelites found themselves in the bible and the resilience role of the people in support of Queen Esther to over come their challenges.
The Ebonyi First Lady therefore asked the women to give the same support the Israelites gave to Queen Esther to her and the administration of the Governor of Ebonyi State especially as the 2027 general elections draw near.
Mrs Nwifuru made the the statement at the grand finale of the 2026 Women August Meeting held at the Pa Ngele Township Stadium, Abakaliki, where she also empowered over 52 market women with financial assistance to boost their businesses. The event was themed, “The Power of Resilient Women in Nation Building.”
The Ebonyi First Lady said the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru had opened wider opportunities for women in governance, healthcare, education and economic empowerment, stressing that such interventions should not be taken for granted.
“We must not take this for granted. As women, we must remember those who have remembered us and support those who have supported us, especially leadership that has demonstrated genuine commitment to the well-being and advancement of our people,” Mrs Nwifuru said.
She specifically called on the women to rally behind candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections, describing their votes as an opportunity to reciprocate the support and goodwill extended to them by the present administration. “It is time to show appreciation by voting for all the APC candidates in the upcoming general elections. They have supported us, and it is time for us to show our support for them. I know my women cannot disappoint me,” she declared.
The First Lady also challenged Ebonyi women to channel their resilience into building stronger families, peaceful communities and a more prosperous society. “Ebonyi women have always been resilient, but today we need to be more than resilient. We need wisdom, knowledge, unity and courage,” she said, urging them to move “from celebration to commitment, discussion to action and individual success to collective progress.”
Speaking through his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila, Governor Nwifuru commended his wife for her sustained efforts towards empowering women and improving their welfare. He said women in Ebonyi had demonstrated exceptional capacity in governance, healthcare, community development and other sectors, assuring them that his administration would continue to prioritise their inclusion in policies, programmes and political appointments.
The Governor also praised women for their participation in the recently concluded local government elections, where the APC won all the 13 chairmanship positions and 171 councillorship seats.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, represented by Chief Austin Umahi, described the August Meeting as a platform that had grown beyond a social gathering into a powerful instrument for development, mobilisation and strategic engagement.
Umahi commended the Ebonyi State Government for appointing women into positions of responsibility and urged them to reciprocate what he described as the administration’s goodwill with political support in 2027. “If you want to marry a good wife, come to Ebonyi State. If you want a resilient woman, come to Ebonyi State,” he said, expressing optimism that the state would produce a female senator.
The highlights of the events were traditional dances, dressing competition, empowerment of 52 women, goodwill messages etc.
