Oba Women Group Renew PG Onwuka’s Mandate, Rally for Unity, Community Rebirth

Inyom Oba President General unveils fresh development agenda, urges women to embrace enterprise and youth empowerment

By Uzo Ugwunze

The women of Oba Community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have renewed the mandate of Adaife Ngozi Chizoba Onwuka, re-electing her as President General of the Oba Women Patriotic Union, popularly known as Inyom Oba, for another four-year tenure.

The re-election, which came during the Inyom Oba 2026 August General Meeting, was described as a vote of confidence in the leadership and achievements of Onwuka and her executive.

Speaking after her re-election, Onwuka unveiled a renewed development vision anchored on unity, women empowerment, education, healthcare and inclusive community development.

In her presidential address, themed “Nyee Aka Dozie Obodo Anyi Bu Oba” — Help in Rebuilding Our Community, Oba — she called on the sons and daughters of Oba, irrespective of differences, to unite and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the community.

“Development is a collective responsibility. When we unite in purpose and support one another, Oba will continue to grow as the Light of the Nation,” Onwuka said.

She expressed appreciation to the women of Oba for renewing their confidence in her administration, promising to consolidate the gains recorded during her first tenure.

According to her, the new administration will give priority to women empowerment, girl-child education, health sensitisation and support for vulnerable families, while strengthening initiatives aimed at improving household incomes.

‘Women Can No Longer Afford Idleness’

Onwuka also called for greater participation of women in economic and political affairs, stressing that women must move beyond dependency and embrace productive ventures.

She advocated peace, discipline, hard work and responsible citizenship, urging women to take advantage of skills-acquisition programmes and small-scale businesses available within the community.

“Gone are the days when women remained idle as housewives without generating any form of resources to support their families. Women must be economically productive and actively participate in the development of our community,” she said.

She appealed to the traditional institution, the President General of Oba, town union executives, youth leaders and other stakeholders to partner with Inyom Oba in executing people-oriented projects.

Education Project Tops Achievement List

Giving an account of her first four-year tenure, Onwuka said her administration inherited a situation where students of Oba Women School Ltd had to register outside the school to sit for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

She said she subsequently initiated the process of obtaining the necessary approval for the school to conduct the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.

“When I assumed office in 2023, I learnt that students of Oba Women School Ltd had to register outside our school for WAEC. I embarked on the process of getting approval for our school from Awka,” she explained.

According to her, an inspection team later identified inadequate infrastructure as one of the major obstacles to securing the approval.

“They came for inspection and said we lacked adequate buildings and school blocks for a secondary school. We started a massive two-storey building, which we hope to complete during this second tenure.”

Onwuka added that her administration also opened independent commercial bank accounts for both the private school and Inyom Oba to improve financial management and facilitate transactions.

She listed the procurement of a new uniform for Inyom Oba and reforms to the union’s home and overseas general meetings among other achievements recorded under her leadership.

Interest-Free Loans Empower Oba Women

The re-elected President General disclosed that the women’s union attracted a revolving interest-free loan scheme sponsored by Adaeze Social Club.

She said nine women benefited from N150,000 each in the previous year and had repaid the loans, while another round of funding had been secured for 10 beneficiaries from the 10 villages of Oba.

“Last year, they gave nine persons loans of N150,000 each, which have been returned. This year, they gave us another loan of N200,000 for 10 persons from the 10 villages,” she said.

She also disclosed plans to complete a property comprising about five plots of land and six rooms, with the aim of putting it to commercial use and generating internal revenue for the union.

Skills Acquisition, Youth Development

Onwuka urged women, youths, sons and daughters of Oba to take advantage of free skills-acquisition programmes sponsored by the Mayor of Idemili South, Hon. Amaka Obi, also known as Iyom Ifeabata.

She said the programme, which holds at the Oba Civic Centre every Sunday by 3 p.m., offers training in areas including bakery, tiling and other vocational skills.

She further disclosed that Adaeze Social Club had established a fashion-design training programme, with beneficiaries expected to receive start-up kits after completing their training.

The women leader also called on parents to take the upbringing of their children seriously, warning that young people involved in social vices should be encouraged to acquire useful skills and become productive members of society.

“Some of our children are indulging in various vices, but they should retrace their steps and embrace these skills-acquisition programmes, including the ones provided by our Igwe, Engr. Augustine Emelobe, Eze Okpoko II,” Onwuka said.

She cited long-distance driving training as one of the initiatives through which some youths had been trained and subsequently secured employment opportunities within and outside Nigeria.

“To realise the New Oba Development Project, there is no room for idleness,” she declared.

Stakeholders Back Second Term

Dignitaries at the event commended Onwuka’s leadership and prayed for wisdom and strength as she begins her second tenure.

They pledged their support for the administration’s proposed education, business and medical empowerment projects.

The meeting and inauguration ceremony attracted the traditional ruler, town union executives, youth leaders, women leaders and other stakeholders from across Oba.

Onwuka and her executive were unanimously re-elected on August 20, in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, including Lady Benice Uchendu and Ify Ezeoke; Coordinator, Anambra Central Senatorial District, as well as Iyom Chika Amobi, who represented the President General of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Women Wing, Hon. Blessing Onuigwe.

The re-elected Inyom Oba executive members are:

President General: Adaife Ngozi Chizoba Onwuka
1st Vice President: Lady Christy Ubadike
2nd Vice President: Adaife Chinwe Obiabunmo, JP
3rd Vice President: Lolo Iyom Ngozi Ibeto
Secretary General: Mrs. Glad Anyadiegwu
1st Assistant Secretary: Mrs. Ngozi Obienu
2nd Assistant Secretary: Mrs. Chizoba Chibuike
Financial Secretary: Iyom Amaka Igwilo
Treasurer: Mrs. Charity Agbanusi
Auditor I: Mrs. Nwadiogo Umezulike
Auditor II: Mrs. Joy Ikwuemesibe
Provost I: Mrs. Nkoli Ikeogu
Provost II: Mrs. Virginia Nwabunike.

With the renewed mandate, Onwuka said the focus of her second tenure would be to build on existing achievements while mobilising the women and wider Oba community toward a more united, economically productive and development-driven future.

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