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From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Someone said: “Marriage is not always a bed of roses. Sometimes the rose comes with thorns.” In other words, there are blissful and blighted marriages.
Although there is no particular formula for blissful marriage, but a women’s group in Ohaozara, Ebonyi State, known as Virtuous Okposi Wives Association (VOWA) has offered some tips to help create and maintain a successful marriage.
Maintaining that there is work to do by spouses, they identified love and trust as the foundation of blissful homes, adding that wives must be submissive to their spouses even as husbands are expected to love their wives.
The women also urged couples to always relate with each other with open mind while sharing their moments of joy and pains together.
Speaking at a ceremony in commemoration of the 10th anniversary at Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, president of the group, Mrs. Anenechi Aja-Eze, charged women to always remain resolute to their spouses at all times.
She maintained that the secret of any blissful marriage lies in the intimate cooperation that exists between a husband and his wife. She further urged members to be committed to any of their husbands’ projects capable of advancing the wellbeing of their families.
Telling the story of the association, Aja-Eze said that it came into being in February 2012 through her effort and those of the pioneer president, Mrs. Patience Ugwunna-Okoro, Mrs Ifeoma Iburu, and other like minds, mainly to unite married women in Okposi clan. According to her, their idea was basically to protect and project the interest of their members as well as affect the public positively in diverse ways through empowerment and other related programmes.
“Initially, we were like an aso ebi group attending one event or another for our members until on the particular day that few of us agreed to convert the gathering into a full-fledged association and as I am speaking now, VOWA has been fully registered with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Corporate Affairs Commission,” she said.
The president added that the association from the outset had fostered unity and oneness among members in such a way that they usually identify with one another both in the time of merriment and the period of grief and had also assisted some widows and female children with skills and cash.
Aja-Eze explained: “Apart from being our sisters’ keepers, we have enlightened about 200 girls whom we selected from across 12 secondary schools in Okposi clan on the use of sanitary pads. In that event, we were able to find out that some of them were still using toilet tissues and pieces of cloths in place of sanitary pads.
“Through the programme, they were educated on the importance of sanitary pads and the disadvantages of using other materials. In short, the organisation has been doing well in every aspect.”
She further stated that VOWA within the period also organised skill acquisition programmes where members were taken through soap and cake making. The members also received coaching on marriage and other relationships. She, then, urged them to sustain those virtues which the association was known for.
Vice President of VOWA, Mrs Victoria Ogbonne Enyi, paid glowing tributes to the pioneer president, Mrs. Ugwunna, her successor, Mrs. Joy Anoke, and their incumbent leader, Mrs. Aja-Eze, noting that they had made tremendous impact on the lives of people. She added that before now, the association had provided some children with school fees, bags and books and also cared for some widows.
“I have been touched by the teachings involving how to manage homes and marriages which we have learnt, coupled with the way we are handled when there is a mistake. With these, one will find out that the association is made up of people of impeccable character and humility.
“Concerning our individual homes, if the association is not impactful, some of us would have been stopped from being members by our husbands. But for the fact that I am still a member, shows that we are doing well. As the name implies, it is an association of God-fearing women, that is why I’m calling on other women from Okposi to identify with us,” Enyi said.
It was indeed celebration galore for the women as they rolled out the drums at the event. Joined by their spouses, friends and well-wishers, the programme started with a thanksgiving service at the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church (Ebonyi Parish) on Sunday, October 30, 2022, where Archbishop Onyeuwaoma Omoke thanked God for their life as an association and individually. He prayed to God to make the next 10 years of the group more fruitful and eventful.
Chairman of Ohaozara local government, Ajah Chinonso Consider, and All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the forthcoming election, Ogbonna Igboke, were some of the notable persons at the event, which coincided with the birthday of Mrs. Aja-Eze.
The council boss congratulated them on their 10th anniversary and achievements, pledging to always identify with their lofty programmes.
One of the guests, Reuben Okorie (Owelle), whose wife belongs to the association, said that VOWA has remained a positive influence on young women in Okposi. He applauded them for being worthy partners to their spouses.
