Echo woman

This week’s Echo Woman features the Special Adviser to the Imo state Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Services, Hon. Princess Christiana Eligwe Ude.

Background

Hon. Princess Christiana Ude hails from Oru East LGA of Imo state.
She had her Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the prestigious University of Maryland USA. She also went further to obtain a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management in
UK. She started working as an Accountant but was not satisfied with dealing with figures and little interaction with people.

“I felt I needed to do something different because the job was so monotonous, I started teaching Mathematics in a middle school abroad”.

With her passion of rendering help and being supportive to the less privileged, she decided to bring back educational materials and books from the college she was teaching because the school always carry out a yearly exercise of upgrading their library and clean up which entails dropping some materials, ranging from computers and other school materials for new ones.

“I said to myself that this things will be needed back home in Nigeria, I started shipping them down to Lagos because as at that time it was an easy access for me.

The more I did it, the more rewarding it was because I thought of making impacts and setting up a non-profit organisation because those materials were distributed for free to schools and orphanages in Lagos.

“I got a call from someone in UN in 2014 who said, we have seen what you do and have read about you and I was asked to come work with UN and participate in zero draft project to render support, it was a part time job but rewarding.

I started working in United Nations then came SDG job”

She started her job in Nigeria and had her challenging moments.
“When I came back it was as if they didn’t embrace me, I was shut out, I didn’t understand but someone told me that they were probably thinking I was coming to take their job from them, I said why will anyone think like that unless you are not efficient in your job. It was a frustrating experience as I was always complaining to my spouse, he saw an advert from National Assembly because he knows how passionate I was.

I got the job on promoting SDG bills on the floor, then I decided to visit the archives, I took inventory of bills written by women and the ones they’ve passed even the ones amended and I discovered there were lots of bills to be amended.

My passion to be in the legislative arm of government made me decide to run for House of Representatives election in 2019.
I started with APC because they promised to give me ticket but was disappointed by a top politician and a former governor of Imo state. It was a very tough period for me but I didn’t want anybody to stop me. I went to another party Social Democratic party (SDP) and clinched the ticket to run for Oru East/Orlu/Orsu Federal constituency.

I saw the reason why people change parties because I was wondering why another person will try to determine my fate, I looked at it that this man is trying to determine my fate, he stood in front of people and told me he will give me an appointment if I should step down for another person and it was a man.
I told him with all due respect, I was not going to step down for any person, I came out to become a legislature and if you choose not to keep your word, so be it, and I walked away.

I ran under SDP but there were lots of threats, even people trying to vote for me were threatened too, I spent alot of money, I challenged the election in court but my witnesses did not show up because I learnt they were paid off by my opponent.

So I tried to forge ahead until Governor Hope Uzodinma won and gave me the appointment as the Special Adviser on SDG and Humanitarian Services.

Motivation

I wanted to be in the position to help women because I have met lots of women in politics even the former Liberian female president who motivated me, I wanted to be in a position to do something for women, I was self motivated. I wanted women to see that if a man can run election, a woman can also run.

Building confidence in women

I have a mentoring programme for girls in abroad that deal with self esteem programme, lots of women lack that, you don’t have to sleep with a man to get to do anything.

We parents need to buy essential stuff for our girls because if she doesn’t get it, she will look for a man to give her thereby, falling victim of abuse. Do as much as you can to have conversations with your child, teach them you don’t have to run to a man, make them speak up and don’t shut them up”.

Gender based violence

I have faced some sort of harassment as a woman, I know it when I see it but when you are able to do something for yourself, you don’t need to sleep with any man.

I was young but very smart, I went to college and paid my tuition fees by myself, the women that sleep around do not have anything to offer, I said I can’t date anyone in my office and if you harrass me, I will let you know I have many options.
Why women don’t speak up in face of abuse is because they feel there is no support system, like one came to my office and showed me how she was poured hot oil by her sister’s husband and she ran away and took shelter in another man’s roof and got pregnant for the man. Infact, she is not sure who is responsible for her pregnancy.
We should speak up as women in the face of abuse which can both be physical and emotional.

Most Nigerians don’t react the way I do. Some people are raised in volatile environment, so they are so hard to convince, they just accept abuse because they see their father abusing their mother and they feel that is the way things are.

Nobody can intimidate me, I fight for my right, I will only do those things my spirit support, I try to help people overcome any form of abuse.

We need to preach love in family circles, church even in our schools.

Achievements as the SA on SDGs and Humanitarian Services

I have two angles to my job that have to do with the H
humanitarian and the SDG aspects.
The state has benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer across the 27 LGAs Formally only 9 LGAs benefitted so the governor asked me to push for the rest to be captured, it was a huge achievement for my office. Also the Home Grown Feeding programme and NPower, National Social Investment programme NSIP have also been launched in the state.

The state will soon benefit from the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP), all these are being made possible by the executive Governor of Imo State through my office and resilience.

We have an SDG office in Abuja and have our budget but still waiting for the counterpart funding.

Advice to women

Women should be supportive and receptive to the plight of other women. Let’s be more louder and talk to our boys to stay away from gender based violence and the dangers.
No one should stay put in an abusive marriage for the sake of one’s life.

Mrs. Ann Dozie hails from Azaraegbelu Emekuku and married to the family of Chukwu Dozie from Egbu in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. She has been commissioner for women affairs in Imo State.

Education

She attended Emekuku Girls Secondary School and attended teachers training College at Ihie and was trained in general Nursing at our Lady of Grace General hospital in Ihiala. She worked at Holy Rosary hospital, Emekuku. She also taught in school of Nursing Ihiala and also worked in various wards and departments.
Lady Ann in her quest to lend her voice in governance left nursing as a senior staff and joined politics in 2006.

Politics

Her journey into politics began as she supported a governorship candidate in 2007 as a woman mobilizer. She equally supported Senator Rochas o
Okorocha as a governorship candidate in APGA and the election was won. She was appointed by Okorocha as the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development where she became the first person to be made a commissioner in her community, Egbu.

She also held the position as a Board of Trustee member in APGA for her doggedness. Lady Dozie contested for the House of Assembly election in 2015 having given a wider margin against her follow contestants but could not win the election. This did not deter her as she kept on moving through the ladder of politics. This spurred her into contesting election as a Deputy Governorship candidate of Accord Party with the Former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim in 2019 though they could not win the election.

Lady Ann as she is fondly called is a very intelligent woman, full of strength and has great interest in being in governance and adding her wealth of experience in any area she is called to serve.

She is the Chairman Prince Alex Mbata Humanitarian Foundation and the current Special Adviser on Nursing, Midwifery and Adoption Matters. She is one of the commissioners nominated by governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma. They have been screened and awaiting portfolio and ministry assignment.

Success

In her words on the secret behind her success she said, ‘’whatever that has happened in my life is the handiwork of God. He gives me strength. I believe so much in the will of God not minding my shortcomings. My mother played a huge role in my upbringing. She told me that the way to succeed in life is to keep your hands clean, abstain from evil and never see evil as good no matter what happens.

I am a straight-forward person, I don’t compromise my standard. I relate with people no matter your level’’. She said.

She said she does not discriminate but believes in lending a helping hand to those in need as everyone will give account of his stewardship to God.

Advice to women

Speaking on her exploits in politics, she adviced women to participate actively in politics and lend their voice in decision making. She noted that politics is for woman against the notion that women should not participate in politics because they say it is a dirty game as no responsible woman should be in politics.

“If any woman thinks she will start messing herself up in politics, that is her problem. When you know your right, men will respect you. Men are good people, I prefer working with men because when they see that you are firm, they will respect you if you don’t mess around.

“A lot of women enter politics without knowing why they are there, You need to defend your people, participate in decision making, tell them when they are not getting it right. No woman should fight men, but make your point and don’t sit at the corridor waiting for peanuts to be giving to you: get involved in the scheme of things’’. ‘’Politics is for women, you need to make inputs: women should speak up’’.

She said that so many women have made marks in politics by holding various positions as Commissioners, Deputy Governors, Senators, House of Reps member, Minister among others.

‘’God created Adam, he made women a helpmeet. There should be mutual respect, a woman should respect the man, I don’t believe in fighting. Dialogue is the key; you should not fight for what you can’t handle. Its not true that men don’t allow women to be in leadership position, the way you make your bed, that is the way you will lie on it’’.

Go out and talk like a sensible women, don’t talk because you want to talk, positions will be given to you if you are tested and trusted’’.

Domestic issues

On the rate of divorce and domestic violence, she disclosed that women should be submissive and never do anything that will affect the ego of the man. She warned women not to rub shoulders with their husbands even as a bread winner or a career woman.

She also said that there should be mutual love and respect between couples.’ ‘’If you have money, take care of your wife Very well, this is my 40yrs in marriage, there is nothing as good as a happy home, no marriage is the same, when you want to buy gold and your husband can’t afford it, you lie low because no marriage is the same, don’t compare your marriage with others. If you want your marriage to work, it will work. So many women force their husbands to look outside, women are derailing and pursuing shadows, it should not be so.

On girl child

Speaking on motherly and parental role, she advised mothers to take care of their girl child and make them responsible. She said, “you need to teach your girls to be responsible, so many women push their girls into prostitution by comparing them to others, invariably asking them to go and prostitute, you don’t train people with so much money.

See lots of people living a big life though not working, if you bring up your child well, she will remember what you taught her. She said her challenge is fellow human beings not doing things the right way it should be done. People tend to make it in life without undergoing the process. She frowned at people not engaging in legitimate way of making money.

She urged people to always stand for the truth without minding whose ox is gored. She stated that she has zero tolerance for injustice and can fight and defend others. “When an argument comes up, they will call me, I don’t know how to pet words, I can be the only one standing but I don’t bother so far as am right, I pursue it to the end’’.

She maintained that she does not give room for cliques as she said it brings down the society and makes people choose the wrong person for leadership position.

I align myself with what is right, even if I don’t win the case but I will make my point. In politics, I don’t hold any enemies but I ensure I do the right thing.

Mrs. Joy Asobi is a Producer/Production Manager with a radio and television station based in Nnobi. Growing up from an average family, she is trying her best to inculcate her good moral up bringing in the younger generation.

Background
My name is Joy Asobi. I am the first child and daughter in a family of seven. I had my primary and secondary school in Umuahia, Abia State and I am a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology Studies of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. A wife to a good and loving man and a mother too.

Growing up
I can vividly say that my childhood was a mixture of everything beautiful, inspiring and challenging too. I grew up in a middle class environment where almost all the people around were doing well yet they lives humble and normal. I can remember back then when I used to have conflicts in my tiny head about the career path.

I wanted to toe the right path because I have a mother who was teaching, neighbours who were lawyers, broadcasters, doctors and even musicians etc. So I saw how impeccable all these people were and then I will tell myself today that I want to be a lawyer, tomorrow I will say broadcaster and it went on until the day a senior family friend who was a broadcaster with NTA, Lagos came back and took me along to see the governor at Umuahia Government House, there and then, my decision was made.

I asked her so many questions about why she is visiting the governor. She said she was to interview him and get his opinion on a trending issue on his government. I asked her “will they allow you to see him”, he said: “Yes” and went further to say, that for everyone in the media, “we are part of the government” and that the media, with their write up, can make every insane government sit up.

From that day I took that decision to join a profession or job community that communicates the emotions of the masses to the right authority. So the challenging part was for my neighbourhood and the environment in general. Parents pride themselves in the academic prowess of their children, so you need to work extra hard, read at all times to put your own parents in a position where they can comfortably tell others that their child did this feat. So, as a child, I lived as if every day was an essay competition.

Parental/friends’ influence
My parents and the secondary school I went to, St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Girls Seminary, Umuahia. I will forever appreciate the efforts of my then principal, Dame NK Asinobi and Nneoma Florence Ozurumba and all my teachers. They really tried to uphold the principles my parents instilled in me whenever I returned to school.

Childhood dreams/ aspirations
The only one that fizzled out was being a lawyer and living in America. The rest came into fruition and I am thankful to God.

Fears and challenges
My fear while growing up was losing any of my parents or siblings and not making my parents and myself proud. My fear now is not living up to expectations, I fear failing in anything am assigned to do. So I can say I fear failure.

Overcoming the fears and challenges
I pray before doing anything, and then go on to put extra effort in whatever I do. So, whenever I face challenges, I tell myself that you have done your bit, try again because there is room for improvement. My aspirations, growing up as a lady and a mother have paved way to my greatness as a career woman. I am confident that whatever challenges in life today is something not to worry about. Because I have learnt the rudiments that define a real woman and what it takes to become strong in the society.

Career fulfillment
Yes, I am happy but yearn for more growth and opportunities so that I can continue to impact, influence and help in bringing the needed change that brings about all round development.

Greatest career or life-threatening challenge(s)
When I was the head of production/programs of a broadcasting house, I worked almost every day of the week. I finished from the radio stations and headed to the TV station. It was one of the greatest career challenges that was life threatening because I woke up each day by 5 am, prepare to leave so as to be able to get to work before 8:30 then close by 8:30/9pm. Remember that I still had my family to take good care of too. I survived it by quitting (Laughs) because I didn’t have a life outside the work then and my employers didn’t appreciate the sacrifices because they were new and believed that was what you should do in order for the business to make massive progress. So I quit to save my life for my family.

Greatest achievement
Being able to use the skills I achieved over time to bring a positive change in the society. I have mentored young broadcasters that are doing well and making waves in their various stations. This makes me happy whenever I tune in to any station and hear their voices. It gives me so much joy, so I see it as one of my greatest achievements.

Role model/source of inspiration
They are too numerous to mention but I love Stella Chinyelu Okoli to a fault. Her hard work and tenacity in growing a brand that has taken care of our health and wellbeing over the years make it for me.

Sexual abuse or harassment
No, because I try my best not to give room for it and when I see something like it coming, I try not to notice. I know that some women do encounter such experience.
I believe, people’s challenges differ in the pursuit of greatness, so I won’t say because I have not gone through it that means it doesn’t happen to some people. It does happen to different women in different ways and places too.

Curbing sexual harassment and intimidations
In a work environment, every employer should prioritize competence, transparency at their work place. Respond seriously when an issue of harassment is reported and take actions against the person harassing. If need be, change the harassed person to another department to avoid reoccurrence. If it occurs in the work environment, the lady should not give in so as to retain her job.
She should send a clear and stern warning through her body language to the person harassing her or report to higher authority but if it happens that the person you will report to is the one doing the harassment, I believe if you respectfully tell the person to back off and they keep insisting, it’s time to go, so that you will maintain your stand.

Legacy
As a person that helped a lot of people achieve greatness.

Advice to the younger generation
In everything you do, create a balance between your career and relationship. Be smart about every choice you make, evaluate your priorities and employ your time management skills so that while pursuing your career the other important parts of your life won’t suffer.

Mrs. Kelechi Prisca Egbom, leader of the women wing of the Leather Product Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS) has said that girl child, lady or woman who relies on the excuse that she is a woman to embrace failure in life is lazy.

Egbom who said she has been in the Leather Product Manufacturing industry, an SME system and network that has taken away over 50,000 persons off the streets since 2003, called on young girls to make themselves available to learn skills that will make them better women, capable wives and able mothers tomorrow.
Narrating how she started with diligent learning from those who know better. She added that it did take her much time to master the art of creating various fanciful designs used to add aesthetic touches to all kinds of leather products.

“The best way to start is to start. Always have self-confidence. I knew and I believed from the beginning that I can do this job notwithstanding that I am a woman. One thing is sure, whatever you agree that you can do as a human being, the Almighty God will always be with you as long as that thing is not evil.

“All I needed back then was to be determined and focused and I applied both determination and focus to get to where I am today. It’s said that what a man can do, a woman can do better. So, with that determination, I decided to push. I learnt about it and here I am,” she said.
Mrs. Egbom said learning and mastering the work didn’t take her much time because she was determined to succeed and desire to make a difference.
“It didn’t take me too long because I was already used to creating fancy designs for their bags and shoes to make aesthetic improvement. After getting married and thinking of what to do to make my life better.

“I got into it through the help of one of the shoemakers who helped me by referring me to another woman whom I learnt the craft in her shop. So, it didn’t take me more than a month to master it because I have eyes and mind for fast learning.”

Egbom said she did not just stop making moves to succeed when she must have learnt and mastered the art of creating beautiful symbolic designs for leather products.
According to her, “I didn’t stop there, I have to let people know what I can do. This was how I started meeting all the shoemakers I can reach to tell them what I can design for their products and that was how I created my identity and carved out a niche for myself inside Ariaria. I advertised my work to anyone I meet and that made me a household name here. Nobody will know you if you don’t say who you are and what you can do.”

The LEPMAAS women wing boss said that it hurts her to see her fellow women, especially young girls gallivanting, roaming about and getting into so many things that God and man frown at when there is a legitimate and socially acceptable means of survival available for them.

“I’m encouraging more women to join us to continue to make their families better. This is a work you can start with nothing and end up with something great.
“It’ll help them better their lives and fend for their families. You can do it from anywhere. It’s collaborative work. For instance, whenever I have a high demand for certain designs, to meet up, I share it amongst my fellow women to enable them to work as well.

“I have helped so many people. It is difficult for one person to satisfy all the customers’ demands coming here. We cooperate here by sharing works to make things faster. Those who are more creative especially the younger ones, make more money with their creativity. It’s a job that requires more brain than physical strength.
“Our job is dignified. It’s a noble job that one can beat her chest to say, I made my own money without depending on anyone. This job is a soul-saving job. It has rescued so many young girls that almost wasted their lives and turned them into good women, good wives and excellent mothers today.

“It’s not just about my own angle of designing, even those in the leather designing have been rescuing our youths as I speak to you. The majority of them are gradually embracing this job. Every girl has numerous needs, and it is these needs that push them into so many things just to meet up.
“My assurance to any of them who feels she wants to be a good person is that this job will make them self reliant and active. I teach a lot of young girls and even give them jobs to do for me which I always pay them for doing such jobs.”

She advised women to stop accepting that being a woman means playing second fiddle to financial responsibilities, stressing that God created a woman to be a helper, not an onlooker who waits for bread and make excuses.
“I advise our ladies and women to stop seeing themselves as women. I’m exposed enough to know that women education does not end in the kitchen anymore.
“We as women can transform the fortunes of our families today, help our husbands to make the family stronger without failing in our duties as wives, mothers or as women.
“There are huge opportunities for us out here. Excuses are no longer acceptable. I beg our women to come here and see their fellow women making bags and shoes that could be likened to those imported ones.

“We have young girls that are doing marvelously well and can take care of their needs. So, any girl out there saying she couldn’t do this or that because she’s a girl or a woman, I see such as laziness and I must ask such a person to wake up because time waits for no one.
“We must stop using our laziness as an excuse to accept a bad condition. There’s nothing strange here. Women can do better. Let them work hard. Everything is not about trading. We all must not be traders.
“God gave us brains and we have to use it to better our society by being creatively active. We can be more creative as women when it comes to bag, shoe and belt making,” she said.
Egbom described the leather products manufacturing industry in Abia State as a life-saving industry and a positive character molding industry where people learn that it is through hard work that God can give His blessings and not by cutting corners.

“Too many persons are employed here. Do you know that some bosses here do employ over 10 persons in one shop? I’m sure you’ve gone in to see some young secondary school leavers who just took their SSCE and have to get busy.
“There are also graduates who needed to acquire skills for better tomorrow who are here humbly learning. We’re bringing them here to get busy and run away from unwholesome behaviour.
“As for the younger ones, some of them will go to the university later if they choose, but this place gives them chance to see what life holds. It’s a place we cannot overestimate its importance to our society. It is a factory where capable humans are moulded and remoulded.”

She described the women wing of LEPMAAS as a fast-growing arm of the main body and expresses surprise at how the wing is rapidly growing.
“I never knew things will be this big, but after several pieces of training I’ve undergone, I’ve realized the importance of this organization job to the society. I’ve always encouraged my fellow women to see the importance of LEPMAAS.

“I can beat my chest to tell you that the women wing of LEPMAAS is growing rapidly. We now have our own executive in the women wing and that’s a huge achievement for us. We’re very organized and we thank our leadership for their support.”

She however said that they still have challenges which include access to financial aids that could enable them to do better.
“Finance is a huge problem, but I’m glad that the leadership of LEPMAAS is currently doing its best to help us stand properly. We need such financial aids and loans to enable us to do better.
“Again, some women still find it difficult to get shops in some zones within the clusters. It seems as if some persons believe women don’t have strength however, we’re breaking some of these challenges. I’m happy our leadership are with us.

“I also call on the government to extend their hands of fellowship to women in LEPMAAS because we’re good at what we do.”

To Miss Onyinyechi Ajala giving up on the dream to be successful is not a path she is willing to follow. She believes that nothing good comes easy.

The Acha, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State-born lady is the owner of Kamich Cakes and more situated in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Eastern Nigeria.

Onyinyechi who from her tender age discovered her passion for baking, studied Accountancy and obtained her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy at the Abia State Polytechnic Aba.

She proceeded to the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corp which she did at St. John of God Secondary School Awka, Anambra state.

Onyinyechi said her journey of life began immediately after she completed her NYSC, as she began job hunting, submitted her Curriculum Vitae (CV) to several companies hoping on the usual promise that they will get back to her which never materialized.

“Immediately after my NYSC, I went out in search of white-collar jobs. I submitted my CV to different firms and expected to be called but unfortunately, none of them called me.

“At a point, I decided to ask myself a question. I checked myself and I discovered I have a skill that could make me a better person. It was then that my eyes opened that I am a good baker.

“I started baking and letting people know about my work. So, I decided to start advertising cakes because it is something I already know how to do.

“It did not take long people took notice of my works and cake jobs started coming from different places. I know how to make different things but I decided to concentrate fully on cake making,” she said.

News Echo learnt that Kamich Cakes and more as the name goes, also makes bread, snacks, pastries, parfait, Greek yoghurt, granola and coconut flakes aside from the cake it specializes in.

Onyinyechi’s story and achievement should encourage everyone out there never to dwell in complaining, but to always look inwards and discover who they are and stop playing the victim of circumstance.

According to American born Italian scientist, Steve Maraboli, “Your complaints, your drama, your victim mentality, your whining, your blaming, and all of your excuses have never gotten you even a single step closer to your goals or dreams. Let go of your nonsense. Let go of the delusion that you deserve better and go earn it! Today is a new day.”

News Echo learnt that Kamich is a name she coined from Katherine, her English name and her daughter’s English name, Michelle. Kamich is gotten from the first two letters of her name and the first four letters of her daughter’s name.

According to Onyinyechi, baking is not a job for lazy persons. She said it took her three months to learn baking professionally, but ever since she started, she has not stopped going for more training both onsite and online to make sure she is up to date with what is obtainable in the bakers’ world.

The workaholic Onyinyechi who hardly looks back when she begins baking told News Echo that the baking business is generally stressful, but in the end, the gains are worth the stress.

She advised anyone who aims to go into baking to ensure that she already has a passion for it, not just to rush into baking because she wants to make money.

“I knew I had a passion for baking even while growing up because I’m always watching Tv channels where they are showing cake baking training/competitions.

“I spend most of my time sourcing out information from the internet to see beautiful cake pictures and videos. My passion is so high that I was baking cakes for family and friends free of charge.

“That was exactly why job hunting wanted to mess things up for me, I decided to go and learn the craft, to add value to my passion to make money out of it. When you have passion for something, you will know, you don’t need anybody to tell you that.”

Onyinyechi who said she aims to open a baking academy with registered students where she can impact more on other prospective bakers said she aims to see her company, Kamich Cakes and More expand in space, employ a few workers she can pay very well in the future.

She explained that in the baking business, one does not necessarily need a physical shop before the person can start, stressing that a determined person can start right from her kitchen and gradually expand to any level of her dreams.

The Kamich boss who called on more women to see baking as a huge alternative to move away from unemployment said that one thing that can keep a baker in business is professionalism and sticking to quality rather than quantity.

“I can compete with any bigger firm today. And anyone I teach who follows the right procedure without deviating can also compete. Our products are so yummy and tasty. I don’t just make them for making sake, I put in my best to make sure the outcome is very nice for consumption.

I consume everything I make and I make sure I use the best of ingredients available without compromising quality for anything,” she said.

Onyinyechi however said that baking does have its serious challenges which she listed to include poor sales. She said she has been able to handle it through proper quality control which brings more customers and constantly advertising her products using her various social media handles and sharing of fliers.

In this edition, News Echo caught an effigy/model who has impacted lives in various fora and not having to showcase her to serve as moral pointer and encouragement to women especially, will amount to doing a service to the society that the media try to reshape for the better. She is a mother figure and rallying point for collective development. She is as cheerful as she is humane, urbane and easy going. A meet with her, will reactivate your sense of love for womanhood.

Ogechi Ikeh is a gender advocate, a social innovator, sustainable development goal (SDG) activator and a human rights activist.
She is a motivator and a very passionate development expert who has worked with several humanitarian organizations seeking to proffer viable solutions to human factor-based issues and concerns.

As a gender advocate, Ogechi works around women’s issues encouraging them to break the glass ceilings in all their life goals. As a United Nation Women’s Trainer of Trainee (ToT) on building of capacities of women political candidates for election purposes she has trained women on campaigning skills and engagement. This she finds very interesting as it bothers on gender equity where women are encouraged to occupy decision-making positions in public spaces where critical decisions concerning them are taken.

Following a south-south knowledge exchange in Kenya for Nigeria and Nairobi on identifying roadblocks to women’s political participation in Kenya Ms. Ikeh interfaced with various classes of women at different levels, from local county to legislators to look at gender stereotype issues that affect women in Africa generally. Advocacy and lobbying skills were developed at that level to help the Nigerian counterparts.

Still on gender advocate, Ogechi Ikeh is the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) state coordinator. WPIF is a multi- partisan forum for women which recognizes the marginalization of women in politics, decision making and the importance of unity, regardless of party affiliation. She is also a member of Feminist Womanifesto with similar objectives as well as a member National Council of Women Society that see to the dismantling of patriarchy and gender stereotype in our private and public spaces in the society.

Ms. Ogechi is a multifarious individual who is proactive, creative, innovative and is solution oriented.
Nominated by the US Dept of States for International Exchange Programme, She is a 2021 US. Dept of States International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni. A programme organized by US Department of States Washington on NGO management. An experience that will last a life time qualifying her to be an NGO consultant and culture management.

Time will fail to mention that Ogechi Ikeh is an initiator of Petals of Grace Concept, a platform that builds strong support system (3Ss) for women emotionally, psychologically, physically and spiritually. Women are often spent in taking care of virtually everyone and everything and fall back to themselves. However, this platform creates time out for women’s only breakfast meeting quarterly to sit out and just discuss on women’s issues, health consciousness, empower themselves to catch their breath back to forge on life’s activities. She also created a Self-Care Club for these women to have fun.

She also considered young men in the society as agents of change and that motivated her as well to launch Gents’ Corner, a platform where young men are groomed and made to understand how to put a balance to life issues, career, skills and gender related issues most especially relationships.
Ms. Ogechi Ikeh is a people’s person, works across various classes of persons and a goal getter. Development requires sustainability and she will partner with any individual, groups, organizations and multi-national companies to achieve these life goals.

In this day and age where survival appears the greatest challenge, it is not often that one sees another especially women indulge in philanthropic activities genuinely without any ulterior motive. It is politicians who give and violate the biblical injunctions of not letting their right hand know what the left is doing. At a time when many young women are taking into prostitution and all other negative tendencies, it is a rare find to see a young woman of 30 with such a milk of kindness providing opportunities for the not so privileged others to grow and survive.

It is the reason we are celebrating a young Imo woman who just clocked 30 and who is using her Non-governmental Organization (NGO), Jenny Uzo Foundation, to touch lives. Miss Anusiem Jenny is the founder of the NGO which was incorporated in 2018. Anusiem hails from Obowo and attended Federal Government Girls’ College, Umuahia. She later moved to the Imo State University where she earned a degree in History and International Studies in 2012.

Between 2014-2019, she served as the Personal Assistant (Protocol and Welfare) to the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere. She is a seasoned Fashion Designer and owner of Jency Fashions, which specializes in making men’s outfits. The fashion outfit she mentioned aside from creating employment opportunities generates funds for the foundation.

The NGO has kept faith with its vision of supporting the girl child by educating and empowering her academically, socially, fostering gender equality and mentoring the young women.

The activities of the NGO revolves around advocating for the rights of the girl child, educating the girl child on how to take care of herself, providing financial empowerment for the widow and less privileged. The core area of the group is to provide education and enlightenment eliminating the widely held views that ”women education ends in the kitchen”. There is also empowerment through entrepreneurial skills that keep the girl child financially independent.

Some of the achievements of the NGO include among others observing in January 2019 what it called a season of love tagged ‘Owerri Food Stuff Distribution Tour’ during which it shared food stuffs to single mothers who can hardly make ends meet. It held its Hope and Dream project at Obowo LGA Imo State where football competition held among the females in 2018 for the edition. In December 2019 another female tourney held where the ladies were encouraged to pursue their dreams.

The second edition of its Owerri Water and Food feeding project held in 2018 and same year it distributed aprons to market women in the Owerri Relief markets. Same 2018 during its medical and hygiene project in Imo it donated blood and paid the bills of some patients at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
In one of its action plans for 2020 the group promised to set up a female football club and this became a reality in September but was launched in November 2020. She founded the Imo Angels, a club that less than 4 months clinched a trophy in its debut competition. It won an 8 team pre-season women football tourney which took place in Ogun State in March. On her future plans for the club, she said, “we intend to enter for the female league but for now we intend to stabilize the team before we enter into the league.”

Speaking on her 30th birthday and what life has been for her, she stated again, “for me I am proud of myself and all my activities to my generation and my state. I want to thank God for using me as an instrument. All my life I have seen myself giving, helping, reaching out to the less privileged. I am not wealthy but I found myself lucky being used as a tool. It has not been a smooth sail but in all I give glory to God for sustaining me to this stage of my life”.

Advising other young women involved in some negative behaviours, Jenny noted that it is not easy for women but mentioned that they should hold a dream and show determination indicating what they want to be in future. “If they have this kind of mind set the sky would be their starting point. Don’t wait for opportunity to come, move, immediately you move you will see the opportunity.

I pray the young women should embrace a decent lifestyle because life is short on earth”
For now her group has no support or partnership except last month they reached out to 500 students in Umuna Orlu where Aid money, a company of its own, supported in their education of the students on menstrual hygiene during which they distributed scientific pads, shaving sticks among other materials. ‘We are open to sponsors and prays that they come”

On her inspiration to run an NGO of this nature, she declared, “while I worked in the government house I saw different shades of character from politicians but at a time I got close to Nneoma Okorocha who worked closely with the Deputy Gov’s wife especially during the period she organized Women’s August meeting. Then she built houses for widows.

“When I followed the convoy for the opening of the houses I see how the old women use to cry seeing their well furnished houses, on top of all the gifts of wrappers from Nneoma and other people. That alone touched me and made me feel sober. So one December I bought wrappers, between 2014 and 2015, I went to my village to give to widows. I was happy seeing the women happy. They didn’t know me and I don’t know them. At the end of the day, the way they prayed for me got me emotional.

“Once in a while I have always had ideas come into my head to do this do that, do this do that to make people happy. That was how I started. Now I planned to do something for my community as I see people every December move around. I figured out that I could do things that people could participate to entertain. That was how I thought about Female Football because I was told a man donates cup for the men.
“Thus I started women football competition, wrestling competition, cooking competition. At the end of the day the participants go home with prizes. Then some of my relations, uncles, and people from my area had to support me to make a success of the show. That is the beginning of how Jenny Uzo Foundation started. I prayed for the name and success, of which God answered me.”

Jenny revealed that her fashion business is personal to her and finances the Foundation and the football Club. On the participation of women in governance, she notes that the present state government has tried in bringing women into leadership. ‘I don’t know whether or not politicians appreciate that women are important when it comes to governance. When it comes to election times, during campaigns, women have a role they play which you cannot take away from them.

“During election proper, women come out en masse to vote. Women have a way of convincing themselves to vote for a particular person. We are powerful but marginalized. At the end of the day they will refuse to carry women along. Women need to occupy vital positions. I tell you that if the Vice President were to be a woman our country will not be like this. There is no balance where men dominate everything.

There cannot be balance where the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker are men. It is not normal. That is why there is instability everywhere. It is the same scenario also in the state. Man, man , man, it is high time you gave women key positions. There are so many intelligent women in the country. There should be gender equality in leadership.”
On her political aspiration if any, she stated none at the moment but did not rule out any probably in future. Finally, she advised women to keep being who they are, to be focused, that their voices would be heard someday.