Anambra holds 2023 Women’s Summit

 

Wife of Anambra State governor, Nonye Soludo has launched the 2023 Anambra Women’s Summit in Awka.

The Summit, which is hosted by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, brings women from different religious, social, political and cultural groups in Anambra State together to discuss distinct issues that could form the basis of discourse in their August meetings.

The theme of this year’s summit is: ‘Women: Agent of Change for Sustainable Development’.

Mrs  Soludo, while speaking at the event, described mothers as important players in repositioning the society, reminded them that a lot still needs to be done to get the society working again.

She explained that mothers need to be alive to their responsibilities and called their attention to rising cases of abuses, gender-based violence, drug use among children and youths, and called for legal sanctions against women that give out under-aged children as housemaids.

She also urged the women to use their meetings to talk about the importance of family planning, genotype tests, women participation in politics and the need to embrace the agric revolution spearheaded by the present state government, even as she announced the introduction of her healthy living clubs in secondary schools in Anambra State, insisting that making healthy living a household practice in the state is her ultimate target.

A keynote speaker and veteran broadcaster, Mrs Hephziba Agwaniru, who discussed the theme of the event, said that women are a key part of the Sustainable Development Goals, and have an important part to play in the development of the society beginning from their homes.

She noted that women can become real agents of change when certain factors such as poverty alleviation, social inclusion, partnership and collaborations are given priority.

Another speaker, Dr Casmir Nnaemeka, explained that women must begin to take child raising more seriously, regretting that many of society’s ills come from parental negligence.

He said that the duty of a mother at home and society are enormous and explained that once a mother loses sight of her home, the larger society bears the brunt.

The Chief Magistrate of Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Magistrate Court, Anambra State, Mrs Genevieve Osakwe, who spoke on “Rights of Women” disclosed new laws in Anambra legal books, especially those that concern women and children, and stated that women have important rights that are protected by the law.

Member, representing Anaocha Constituency One in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Nkechi Ogbuefi, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, were also at the event.