…Dame Madueke: Mbah’s investments in Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure transforming Oji River

Women of Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State have pledged their support for Governor Peter Mbah and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The women made their position known on Sunday at a gathering organised by the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, at her country home in Inyi, Oji River LGA, as part of activities to celebrate womanhood and highlight the achievements of the Governor Peter Mbah administration in the council area.

Madueke said the event was organised to bring together women from Oji River irrespective of their political, religious or community affiliations, while also providing an opportunity to showcase projects and programmes executed by the state government in the area.

She said the Mbah administration had established 20 Smart Green Schools and 20 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in Oji River, while work was progressing on the Umabi-Ehuhe Achi and Enugu-Aku-Inyi roads.

The commissioner also commended Governor Mbah for appointing indigenes of Oji River to various positions in his administration, as well as supporting women through different empowerment initiatives, including monthly financial assistance facilitated by the wife of the governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah.

“Today, we are giving out a lot of wrappers, rice, food and empowerment for the women. We also have a medical team that will check their vitals and everything,” she said.

Madueke disclosed that the gathering was also used to assess Permanent Voter Card (PVC) ownership among participants, noting that only women with PVCs were welcomed into the venue.

While noting that more than 3,000 women attended the gathering, she attributed the large turnout to sustained sensitisation efforts by the Executive Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike.

The commissioner said the women had resolved to support Governor Mbah and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

“We promise him that come 2027, Oji River will deliver votes for APC from top to bottom,” she declared.

Dame Madueke said the gathering was also a demonstration of the important role women play in community development and political participation, adding that the initiative was aimed at strengthening unity among women in Oji River and creating a platform for them to engage with government programmes and development initiatives.

She said the administration’s investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development had created tangible benefits for communities across the state, including Oji River.

Speaking, the wife of the council chairman, Mrs Uche Anyaegbudike, said women across Oji River had benefited from various empowerment and welfare programmes.

She said the initiatives had provided uniforms and wrappers to women, while petty traders, church groups and other beneficiaries had received financial assistance.

According to her, about 150 women received N100,000 each during the previous August meeting, while 20 women currently receive N100,000 monthly under an empowerment scheme.

She said the interventions had enabled beneficiaries to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Also speaking, the council chairman, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, described the large turnout as evidence of the women’s support for Governor Mbah and the APC.

He said the women were not compelled to make any political declaration, stressing that their support was based on the impact of the administration in the council area.

“What you see here is that the crowd is organic. You can see old women coming out in their various uniforms and various groups coming here to say it is Peter Mbah.

“This is about the Smart Green Schools, the hospitals, human capital development and scholarships,” he said.

Anyaegbudike further disclosed that more than 123 indigenes of Oji River were currently benefiting from the state government’s scholarship programme for students in higher institutions.

The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, urged the women to sustain their support for Governor Mbah and the APC.

Enih said the governor had demonstrated commitment to improving infrastructure, human capital development and the welfare of residents across Enugu State.

She also commended Madueke for bringing the women together and creating a platform for them to celebrate womanhood, highlight government interventions and discuss further development in Oji River.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Victor Udeh, was among other dignitaries who attended the event.