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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Kelechi Anosike, has promised that his administration will cover 60 percent of women’s medical bills if elected in 2027.
Anosike also pledged to provide cooperative loans, skills training, grants, and start-up kits to transform women considered dependents into economically productive citizens.
He spoke at the maiden August Summit of the women’s wing of the Abia Assurance Movement in Umuahia. The summit had the theme, “Uniting the Women for a Better Tomorrow.”
Addressing women drawn from across the state, Anosike said his administration would prioritise their health and economic wellbeing.
“The woman takes care of the family, but she needs to be strong to take care of her family,” he said.
“Government will establish a health insurance scheme for women. The cost of medical services is very high. You will pay only 40 percent, while the government will cover 60 percent and provide high-quality healthcare services.”
A statement by the Anosike Media Unit said the candidate also unveiled plans to introduce “cooperative economics” or “cooperative financing” as the anchor of his women’s empowerment programme.
“Instead of giving money to one person, women will be organised into cooperatives and provided with revolving loans, so that the funds can reach everyone,” Anosike said.
“When we get into government, the cooperatives will register with the relevant government agency to enable them to access loans and grants for their businesses and empowerment.”
He said the government would provide grants, skills-acquisition training, and start-up kits to enable women to establish and sustain businesses.
“Government will change the status of women who are largely seen as dependents to that of producers by training them and providing start-up kits to enable them to become self-reliant,” he said.
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On agriculture, Anosike promised to increase food production for domestic consumption and export, saying women would play a central role in the programme.
“I believe in women. They are very intelligent and smart,” he said.
Anosike announced a donation of N2.5 million to support the women at the summit, declaring that the state now had “a new PDP with a new direction and mindset.”
“Those who destroyed Abia PDP have left,” he added.
The state leader of the Abia Assurance Movement, Chima Azik Iwu, said the group would conduct sensitisation campaigns across the state’s 184 wards to protect women against political deceit. Iwu condemned politicians who presented detergents and N500 cash gifts to women as empowerment, describing the practice as “wickedness.”
The movement’s state women leader, Rhoda Emeka, said it was established to end the exploitation of women by politicians during elections.
“The Abia Assurance Movement was formed to correct the ugly practice of politicians who see our women and the public as people they can deceive every four years,” she said.
Emeka described women as “the backbone of our families, the heartbeat of our communities, and indispensable partners in governance, economic growth, education, healthcare, agriculture, and peace building.”
She urged participants to take advantage of the summit’s dialogue, mentorship, and capacity-building sessions, reaffirming the movement’s commitment to building a society “where every woman is empowered to realise her full potential.”
Other candidates at the summit included the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Eric Opah, represented by his running mate, Goodwill Agu Egbe; PDP Abia Central senatorial candidate, Bob Ogu; PDP candidate for the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Humphrey Chukwudi Benson; and APC candidate Chinedum Orji.
