Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, has urged women to remain united, resilient and committed to educating their children, especially the girl-child.
Enih made the call on the final day of the 2026 General August Meeting of the Nomeh Unateze United Women Association in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
She said the theme of this year’s August Meeting, “Resilience,” underscored the need for women to remain focused, develop themselves and persevere despite economic and social challenges.
According to her, the annual August Meeting provides women across Igbo communities an opportunity to review their progress, address challenges and strengthen their collective efforts towards community development.
“Our central message in this year’s August Meeting is ‘Resilience.’ No matter the situation, just be resilient. The great women of Nomeh, I want to encourage you to be resilient, no matter what,” she said.
Enih also urged women to ensure that their children, including girls, remain in school, saying the Enugu State Government’s Smart Green Schools programme had expanded access to quality education.
“Today in Enugu, no woman has any reason not to send her children to school because Governor Peter Mbah has democratised quality education by building Smart Green Schools in all the 260 wards of Enugu State, and it is free,” she said.
She said pupils in the schools receive meals, tablets, uniforms and other learning materials, adding that the programme was intended to reduce barriers to education.
Current information on the programme indicates that the state has established 267 Smart Green Schools across 260 political wards, with the government also recently approving the recruitment of additional teachers to strengthen the initiative.
The commissioner also urged the women to work collectively against gender-based violence, while stressing that unity remained essential to achieving their shared objectives.
She donated cash and wrappers to the women.
The Patron and immediate past President of the association, Mrs Chinwe Okonkwo, commended Governor Mbah for development projects in the community and urged him to sustain his administration’s interventions.
“Without the security and so many infrastructure he has bestowed on our town, you would probably not find this number of women,” Okonkwo said.
She also urged the women to uphold the message of unity and perseverance promoted by the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah.
The association’s President, Mrs Chinelo Egbo, announced the support of the Nomeh women for Governor Mbah ahead of the 2027 election.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, External Relations, Mr Uche Anichukwu, highlighted projects being undertaken by the administration in the community, including the Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara Road, Nomeh-Oduma Road, Smart Green School and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centre.
Anichukwu urged the women and residents to maintain unity and peaceful coexistence and to support the governor and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The 2026 August Meeting, earlier declared open by the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Lt. Col. Israel Mbah, featured engagements with different sectors of the community, counselling, health education, vocational training and sensitisation on the causes and prevention of gender-based violence.
The meeting also provided a platform for women to discuss community development, personal advancement and social challenges affecting families.
