By Uzo Ugwunze
His Royal Majesty, Igwe Engr Sir Chinedu Augustine Emelobe, EzeOkpoko II of Oba has advised Oba women on the need to intensify prayers for the land and get ready their Permanent Voters Cards to enable them come out en masse to vote during the Anambra gubernatorial election billed for November 8, 2025.
Speaking during the 2025 Oba Patriotic Union OPU Women’s General Home and Abroad August Meeting which held at Merchants of Light School, Oba, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, EzeOkpoko II also revealed that his administration’s template include plans to produce about 1000 academic professor of Oba extraction, empower more women and youths.
“I believe that God hears the prayers of you women because women are super prayerful personalities and God recognizes and grants whatever women asks. You said that God answered your prayers for a the successful emergence of EzeOkpoko II, it is now that your prayers are needed more. It is time to rebuild and repair our land for a new Oba.
“Everything happening to us is because we do not have whom to run to in government. Everybody should collect his or her voters’ card especially women and go out and vote on election day. Sometimes males take election day as a holiday.
“I have joy because Oba people all over the world are prepared. We said we would improve on women’s empowerment program which includes widows without helpers.
“We shall look into education also. We want to have about 1000 academic professors in the next 20 years. There shall be scholarships. We have Youth empowerment and skills acquisition program. Every male child would have to find a job. Any graduate who has not gotten a job should write and submit his or her CV to the palace let us see how far we can go.
“Today, some of our Youths are in Calabar learning long distance driving. After three months they will obtain certificates to drive anywhere in the world and we will send them to France, Canada or America.
“Our parents built Merchants of Light School and Anglican Girls Secondary School for us. We should be able to build University and Polytechnic for our children. But the only thing out people do is to sell and resell land.
“They would take a poor person’s land and sell claiming that the person cannot do anything. I promise you that anybody that his land was collected forcefully and sold will be returned back by the Grace of God.
Earlier in her address, the President OPU Women’s wing, Adaife Ngozi Chizoba Onwuka thanked God for giving Oba community a new Traditional Ruler without bloodshed saying that the emergence of Igwe Engr Sir Chinedu Augustine Emelobe was an answer to fervent prayers by Oba women to God for a good leader and not a tyrant.
Mrs Onwuka commended Adaeze Social Club for empowering women from the major nine villages of Oba with huge sums of money and for buying start up equipment for those who underwent skill acquisition program but had no money to commence business. ” Medical bills were paid for some people who could not pay for their treatment in hospitals.
She further appealed to participants both from home and abroad to help in the funding of the Oba women Secondary School new building project adding that more funds were required to also rehabilitate the Girls Secondary School Oba which has lost some of its Students due to its dilapidated state .
Mrs Onwuka also urged the Oba leadership especially the President General Oba, Engr. Uzo Ejiofor to ensure that the magistrate courts and High courts presently occupying the Inyom Oba Hall relocate to the permanent High Court complex so that the women can utilize their hall.
She reiterated the need to vote for Governor Chukwuma Soludo (Oluatuegwu) saying that His Excellency has been delivering good governance and will do more if voted into office for a second term come November 8, 2025.
Moreso, UNICEF facilitators, Acting Director Anambra State Ministry of Information, Emmanuel Ikegwuani and Chinwe Muonwe of National Orientation Agency were present to educate the women on Essential Family Practices which include effective hand washing, dangers of open defecation and other forms of hygiene.
They also alerted the women about the outbreak of diphtheria in Imo State. Diphtheria which affects the throats can lead to death of children if not detected and treated promptly.
The Labour party Chairman Idemili South, Hon Edozie Maduabum in company of SA to Hon Harris Uche Okonkwo, Federal House Member Representating Idemili North and South, Hon Chuboy Chukwubuikem visited the Oba women urging them to vote for LP candidates in coming elections.
Highlights of the OPUW August Meeting 2025 include the adornment of the new Inyom Oba Uniform by the participants, unveiling of Brochure sponsored by Uruagu women, cutting of anniversary cake sponsored by Umuokokpa Aboji women, and many other educative and spiritual varieties.