Ebonyi women conclude 2026 August Meeting as First Lady celebrates women’s contributions

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ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — Women across Ebonyi State have concluded the 2026 edition of their annual August Meeting in a grand finale organised by the First Lady of the state, Chief Mrs Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Nwifuru. The event recognises the resilience, strength and contributions of Ebonyi women to their families, communities and the development of the state.

The Grand Finale of the 2026 Ebonyi August Meeting brought together women from across the state in a colourful celebration of unity, culture, enterprise and women’s participation in community and national development.

In a statement titled “When Women Rise, Communities Rise,” the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, described the occasion as a celebration of the strength, resilience and enduring contributions of the Ebonyi woman.

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Oketa said the event also provided an opportunity to recognise the role of the First Lady in promoting the welfare, empowerment and development of women and vulnerable persons across the state.

“Today, Ebonyi women come together in their beautiful colours, their strength, their unity and their unmistakable spirit to celebrate the Grand Finale of the 2026 Ebonyi August Meeting,” he said.

“And there is indeed so much to celebrate.

“We celebrate the Ebonyi woman — resilient, hardworking, compassionate, enterprising and strong. The woman who carries the weight of her family, contributes to her community, pursues her dreams and, in spite of life’s challenges, continues to rise.”

Oketa paid tribute to the First Lady, describing her as a compassionate advocate whose initiatives have continued to support women, widows, young girls and vulnerable persons across Ebonyi State.

He said Chief Mrs Nwifuru had continued to remind women that they matter, that their dreams are valid and that their wellbeing remains important.

“From providing homes for indigent persons and widows, to empowering women financially and equipping them with skills for sustainable livelihoods; from standing up for the rights and dignity of young girls and women to supporting initiatives that promote their health and wellbeing, Her Excellency has quietly but powerfully invested in the strength of Ebonyi women,” he said.

According to him, the First Lady has used her position to create opportunities, restore dignity, strengthen families and encourage women to believe in themselves and their potential.

“She does not seek to shine above them; she helps them shine,” Oketa said.

He also pointed to what he described as the growing participation of women in leadership and governance in Ebonyi State.

According to him, the state now has a female Deputy Governor, while women also occupy key positions, including the offices of Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service, as well as several commissioner positions and leadership roles in government agencies and boards.

Women are also serving as Vice Chairmen of Local Government Areas and occupying other strategic positions across the state.

Oketa said the growing representation reflected increasing confidence in the capacity of Ebonyi women to contribute effectively to leadership, governance and public service.

He added that the celebration went beyond the First Lady or the August Meeting itself, describing it as a recognition of the collective strength of women and the importance of women supporting one another.

“It is a celebration of the mothers who raised us, the wives who stand beside us, the daughters who represent our future, the widows who continue to persevere, the entrepreneurs who are building businesses, the professionals who are breaking barriers and every Ebonyi woman whose strength continues to move our state forward,” he said.

Oketa said the 2026 Ebonyi August Meeting Grand Finale was also an opportunity to celebrate women who are making a difference today while inspiring the next generation of girls and women.

“When Ebonyi women shine, Ebonyi shines,” he said.

“Ebonyi women, today is your day. We celebrate the women who are making a difference today, thereby inspiring the girls who will carry the torch tomorrow..”