August Meeting: End abuse, violence against domestic workers,

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr (Mrs) Nonye Soludo, has called on women in the state to use this year’s August meeting to address the rising cases of abuse, neglect and maltreatment of domestic workers and maids.

Soludo, also the founder of the Healthy Living initiative, made the call in a message in Awka yesterday to mark the commencement of the 2026 August Meeting in the state.

She stressed the need for practical and lasting solutions to what she described as an emerging social and moral challenge.

She also urged women to expand discussions beyond the traditional focus on community development projects and social activities to include issues of child protection and responsible caregiving.

According to her, recent reports of physical assault, starvation, torture, emotional abuse and other degrading treatment of domestic workers, many of them minors, should concern every mother.

The governor’s wife said that while the August Meeting had remained a strong platform for community development, peace building, family cohesion and the preservation of cultural and religious values, it must also evolve to address pressing social issues.

She said no society could genuinely uphold the ideals of motherhood while ignoring the suffering of vulnerable children entrusted to families for care and protection.

“The young girl or boy who helps in your home is somebody’s daughter before she becomes your maid. He or she deserves dignity before duty, compassion before correction and protection before punishment. Violence can never be a tool for raising a child or managing a household”.

“As mothers, we have a sacred responsibility to nurture, not to destroy; to protect, not to oppress. Every child under our roof deserves love, respect and the opportunity to grow in a safe environment,” she said.

Soludo called on women leaders, presidents-general of women’s associations, faith-based organisations and community stakeholders to include child protection and the rights of domestic workers in their August Meeting deliberations.

She also urged them to discuss conflict resolution and responsible caregiving, stressing the need for communities to take proactive steps to safeguard vulnerable children and domestic workers.

The governor’s wife reminded parents that children often imitate what they observe at home, warning that normalising violence could produce another generation that accepts cruelty as a way of life.

She urged women to deliberately instil empathy, patience and respect for human dignity in their homes, describing the values as essential for building peaceful families and responsible communities.

“If communities resolve to protect vulnerable children, uphold family values and reject all forms of domestic violence, the Annual August Meeting will become an even stronger platform for building safer homes.“It will also serve as a powerful instrument for promoting stronger communities and a more compassionate society,” Soludo said.

The Annual August Meeting remains one of the most significant socio-cultural gatherings of Igbo women, providing a unique forum for collective reflection, community development, family welfare and the promotion of values that strengthen society.