A major leap in the involvement of women in the development of Ibusa was made recently with the inauguration of the Otu Ehulu Fulu Group by the traditional ruler of Ibusa, HRM Obi Prof LC Nwaoboshi with a charge to members to serve as a building block to the community’s match to greatness.
In his inaugural address, Obuzor Nwoboshi while congratulating members of the group, noted that the community must effectively key into these modern times by first recognizing herself, her values, and means of expressing them confidently to the world.
The Royal father said that modern Ibusa needed such a prestigious society, not only to showcase her daughters of substance, whom he described as leaders among their peers anywhere in the world, but also to provide a platform on which Ibusa women should aspire to belong.
He said that he was encouraged to initiate the society because of the growing number of Ibusa daughters who are excelling in their various careers and making the community proud.
He further described the members of the group as great women worthy of emulation by younger generation of Ibusa women, and said the new group will further serve as an incentive to achieve even more,not only for themselves but also for Ibusa community and the nation at large.
Obuzor Nwoboshi added that the women inaugurated at the ceremony were the pioneer members, as many more eminently qualified women will be drafted into the prestigious group.
He further charged the women to always exhibit the values that earned them membership of the group, stressing that the name Otu Ehulu Fulu not only beauty, nobility, carriage, and character, but also challenges them to help with the upliftment of the female folks in particular, and Ibusa community in general.
Earlier in their remarks, Chief Chiedu Ebie(SSG Delta State) who was the Special Guest at the event, and Owele Seb Adigwe, Chairman of the occasion, congratulated the group and charged them to live beyond the community’s expectations. Adigwe in describing the group as one made up of accomplished Ibusa daughters and wives, also listed some other veritable Ibusa women groups like Otu Umu Ada , Otu Ikpoho Oba, Otu Omu or Nzele Omu, Otu Omunwaeli, as pivotal to Ibusa’s development.
He further went memory lane to buttress his belief that women and women groups have been helping the community to develop in different social and economic spheres, listing groups like Otu Okwulagwe Ikpoho, Otu Onyezusia Nwa, Otu Ugwu-Agbala Ibuzor as ones that had contributed tremendously to the growth of Ibusa. While commending Obi Prof. Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi, for his insight and foresight in initiating this group, Adigwe said that it was an obvious fact that without women, no meaningful development could take place. He further noted that Otu Ehulu Fulu is a composition of the “best of the best in Ibusa community, Nigeria and the globe at large, and thanked the members for accepting to serve the community and for the commitments they had demonstrated so far.
He stressed that the Obuzor had succeeded in putting women at the pivot of our community developmental agenda with the setting up of the group.
He likened the Otu Ehulu Fulu to other similar prestigious associations operating in towns bordering Ibusa such as Otu Odu of Onitsha, Otu Odu Ahaba of Asaba, and therefore charged the Otu Ehulu Fulu of Ibuzor to seek and copy the best and positive policies of these aforementioned groups.
In her address, the group’s president, Dame Philo Okonkwo, expressed appreciation to the Obuzor and his Council for initiating the formation of the group while pledging the readiness of her members to put Ibusa at her rightful place through their programmes and activities.
She said that the society was a group of accomplished Ibusa daughters and wives with passion for the growth of the town, while highlighting their vision which she said was to serve as a pedestal on which the dignity of the Ibusa woman/girl child can be fostered.
She mentioned such visions as, bringing like minds together, drive behavioral reforms of the youths, to work towards the well-being of women and the elderly for the overall development of Ibusa community, she listed the following as some of the areas the group intends to look into; Societal/Juvenile Concerns (Curbing Juvenile Delinquency), Modernisation of Ibusa Cultural/Traditional Practices; Empowerment Skills Development/Acquisition for Entrepreneurship, Equipping two (2) Government Secondary Schools, Agriculture & Agribusiness among others.
The ceremony which held atthe exquisite Lincoln Event Ogboli, Ibusa had in attendance prominent individuals among whom, were Chief Peter Eloke Okocha, Mr Delly Ajufo, Hon Patrick Ukah ( Commissionerfor Higher Education, Delta State), Prof Pat Utomi, Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Uwolo Amaechi Nwaenie, Her Highness, Ezenwanyi Nwoboshi, Chief Charles Okonkwo, Chief Bar Fred Ajudua, Chief Mike Ajukwu, Mr Emma Kanayo lloba, Dr Nnamdi Naps Okonkwo, Mr Chibututu, Chief Bar Felix Nwabueze.
Others include; Mr Henry Onyemem, Ide Austin Izagbo, Nzele Austin Abuah, Dr. Austin Obidi, Dr Anselm Nwanze, Mr Francis Atuche, Mr Tony Nnabuife, Hon Dr Pat Ajudua, Chief Nosike Agokei, Chief Uwajeh, Mr Mike Mornu, Dr Mrs Cilia Okeleke, Ikwelle Celestine Okafor, Ojiso Usonwanneka Oraegbu, Ben Ejeteh, Chief Kizito Ijeh, Chief Victor Utomi, lyase Okonicha, Emma Kwasa Amatokwu, Chief Ejiofor.
