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By Johnson Adebowale
The Abagana Welfare Union (AWU) women’s wing, Lagos, recently celebrated its 50 years of existence with a touch of class.
The event witnessed an anniversary lecture titled, ‘The extraordinary strength of a woman in home building,’ delivered by Mrs. Celine Amaka Ifeora, a scholar and marriage counsellor. It also featured merit award for deserving men and women of Abagana kingdom who have distinguished themselves in various field.
In her welcome address, the president of AWU women’s wing in Lagos, Mrs Ebelechukwu Maryann Amobi, reflected on how the union was formed and enumerated its aims and objectives.
She said: “The Abagana Welfare Union women’s wing Lagos branch started in 1972, but was inaugurated in 1973 at Igwe Angus Obike Ilonze’s residence in Lagos, with the aims and objectives to foster love and unity among all our women resident in Lagos, including those married to Abagana men; seek and promote the welfare of all Abagana people whenever they may be; contribute as much as possible, financially and otherwise, to the development of Abagana in particular and Nigeria in general; settle as far as possible any misunderstanding between and among members of the union in Lagos and at home; promote cultural, economic and social advancement of our people at home and abroad and to create a forum for all Abagana women in Lagos to meet, know themselves and discuss matters of common interests to their manual advantage.”
She expressed gratitude to God for the journey so far and appreciated all that have contributed in one form or another to the success of the union.
Mrs. Amobi explained that the awards and recognitions were in honour of those who had excelled in various endeavours, made marks in their chosen careers and touched the lives of others. She said: “They are people whose successes have impacted society, the community and individuals. Let me congratulate them because it is well deserved. I cannot say more to them than to keep up the good work.
“Again, it gladdens my heart that their presence with us here today will equally impactf and energize the Abagana Welfare Union Lagos branch women’s wing to attain more lofty and greater heights culturally, financially and socially.
“We salute the courage and selflessness of the founding president, and other past presidents namely: Mrs. Cecilia Ogbonneya Okeke (1973-1977), the late Chief Mrs Eunice Onwubuya (1977-1990), Mrs. Ifeteka (1990- 1996), Chief Lady Florence Nwazojie (1996-2003), late Mrs. Chizoba Chidebelu (Ojiugo, 2003-2010), Mrs. Eucharia Obiji ( 2010-2015), and other past leaders who laboured to lay the foundation on which we thrive today in order to ensure that our aims and objectives are continually met.
‘These previous administrations were commended for their unhindered efforts and commitment that enabled the union to record great and remarkable achievements such as equipping the Abagana Health Centre and elevating it to the status of maternity, human capital development among members through start-up loans and continued assistance to become financially independent and resourceful to their families, procurement of tables and chairs for Abagana town hall in Lagos, provision of palliatives to the needy during Covid-19 era amongst others
“I appreciate our other stakeholders, namely: Abagana Welfare Union Lagos Branch and Central, ASWAL, Umu-Ada Abagana Association, and Abagana Youth Association Lagos. Thank you for your continued support.
“This anniversary celebration would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and dedication of the anniversary committee headed by Mrs. Nkoli Akaigwe and other committee members. I wish to express my gratitude to them for a job well done. To the executive members, I say kudos.”
The anniversary lecture delivered by Mrs. Ifeora was one of the high points of the event chaired by Peter Ozobialu, a lawyer.
Mrs. Ifeora explained what a family should be and how beneficial it is for the family to exist in an atmosphere of understanding. With all forms of family in existence in society, the speaker limited her lecture to the elementary form of family regarded as the nuclear family, which comprises both parents living with their children.
She exonerated grandparents, uncles, aunts, sisters, and brothers as not being part of the setting.
