The Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has called for an end to domestic violence, urging victims to always speak up and teach their children basic etiquette and respect for culture.
Mrs Soludo made the call while interfacing with wives of traditional rulers at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Awka the state capital in Southeast Nigeria on Thursday.
Mrs. Soludo urged the Anambra women to actively participate in this year’s August meeting and hold conversations about their health, lifestyle, and organic agriculture.
August meeting is an annual congress held by the Igbo women in August, it is a massive homecoming whereby Igbo women in the diaspora and the cities travel back to their matrimonial villages to meet with their local counterparts to discuss matters about community development, Conflict Management, human development, and other socio-economic and cultural initiatives.
She also advised them to find solutions to the problems arising from poor home management, family planning, and wrong parenting, during the annual gathering.
Speaking further, Mrs. Soludo urged Nigerian women to do more in instilling the ethics of culture in their children, arguing that the society could be better if Nigerian mothers can lead positive change in their homes.
She described women as agents of change, stressing that “If a mother abandons her primary responsibility which is raising a child, the larger society will bear the brunt.”
The Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor who spoke during the interface, highlighted the importance of healthy food consumption, stating that food is the most important medicine one can take.
The Commissioner also encouraged the women to embrace the regenerated agricultural policies currently championed by the state government, by going into organic farming irrespective of the nature of their environments.
Dr Ihejiofor further explained that the state government has an available agricultural support scheme for women who are in cooperative groups which can be accessed through the Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASBA.
A guest teacher, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brian Adinma, who talked about medical issues that affect women, said it is important for women of reproductive age to access good antenatal care and make adequate birth plans to prepare well for pre and post-natal emergencies.
Professor Adinma also talked about the importance of healthy and exclusive breastfeeding and good family planning.
The interface with the traditional rulers’ wives is the first in a series that would also involve other important women groups in Anambra State.
The traditional rulers’ wives were led by their president in Anambra State, Mrs Anurika Okpala.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
