Fight harmful practices with August Meeting, Ikpeazu’s wife urges women

THE wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has tasked women in the state to use the annual August Women Conference to deliberate on ways of eliminating obnoxious and harmful practices against women.
She also charged them to use the window of opportunity created by the conference to educate themselves on various trades and crafts that would improve their standard of living.
Mrs. Ikpeazu urged them to make maximum use of the various skill acquisition training centres built in parts of the state to better their lives and to promote gender issues in the society.
Speaking at Okpuala Ngwa, the headquarters of Isiala Ngwa North Council, while declaring open the 2016 Abia Women August Delegates Conference, for Abia Central Zone, Mrs. Ikpeazu told the women to “shift their focus from yearly jamboree and showoffs to community development projects and empowerment initiatives that can turn around their lives.”
According to her, the annual August meeting should afford them the opportunity to acquire “self-improvement skills and have access to better lives”, and develop interests in emerging issues that have direct bearing on their wellbeing.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for women Affairs, Lady Chinedu Brown described the theme of the conference as appropriate in view of the economic downturn which calls for serious thought and productiveness and ingenuity for survival.
Also, in his remarks, the transition committee chairman of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Mr. Big Nwosu commended the women for organizing the annual August meeting and making it an instrument for rural development.
An interesting lecture on “Reducing Rape Incidences” was delivered  by the Permanent Secretary in the Abia State Civil Service, Uzoamaka Uche-lkonne, and a another one on “Overview of Sickle Cell Disease” delivered by Dr. Ukoha Oluchi Mildred.