By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The newly elected president of Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos (ISTDAL) Women Wing, Lolo Carole Chika Mmonu has been sworn in to carry the mantle of leadership of the association.
The inauguration which took place at the Imo State Liaison Office, Victoria Island Lagos on 27th February, 2022 saw the Liaison Officer/ SSA to the Governor of Imo State, Dr. Uzorma Patrick Chidi administering Oath of Office to the new executives.
The new president, Lolo Carole Chika Mmonu hail from Osina in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, a daughter of Ngor Okpala while addressing the media, said, “Today is the fulfilment of destiny; It is the day for the inauguration of the newly elected executives of Imo State Town Development Association Lagos (Women Wing)”.
Setting agenda for the association, she said, “It has been turbulent for a lot of families, so my executive, and I have set agenda for our administration, and what is the agenda? That we are going to look into the plight of the less privilege in all the town unions and the widows, we are going to empower them, we are also going to partner with NGOs, Caregivers, States, Individuals and Organizations, to seek support and ideas on how to eradicate these problem of indigent women among us”.
Continuing, “If you look critically, you will see that a lot of families have been displaced in the last 2 to 3 years now caused partially by the pandemic, which we are still facing, we are going to support families to find their feet again. We are also going to collaborate with both Imo State and Lagos State governments, we need to feel their impact in whatever we are doing;
“We are also going into a lot of workshops, training to actually see that our women discover their potentials and help them grow and contribute meaningfully to the economic well-being of their various families”, Mmonu stated.
She was also vehement on issue of impunity adding that her administration will not tolerate impunity of any kind. “We have also stressed the need to eschew impunity in our various town unions, we are going to ensure there is unity, progress, and financial prosperity, we are going to be dedicated, hardworking with my executives, we will make sure that the less privileged women among us where ever they are get assistance. “We are going to partner with our men to bring growth and development in our association,” she added.
Chief (Mrs) Vivain Nneka Igwe, from Ibiasegbe, Chairperson, inauguration planning committee, on her part said “We have the plan to bring unity amongst the women, the house is divided, but we will work hard to bring everybody to the same umbrella. We shall gather every woman so that there shall be love among us. I want Imo women in Lagos to unite as a family; that is my dream and vision for the association”.
Lady Celine Chinyere Ogu, a retired Principal of Baptist Junior Secondary School, Obanikoro, the 1st Vice President of the group, who was elevated from the position of the General Secretary, stated that, “We are going to improve on what the previous regime has done, they have achieved a lot, but we are going to improve and we pray we achieve more than they did during their tenure”.
She advised her colleagues “My advice to my colleagues is dedication, patience, endurance, tolerance, and hard work, with all these we can make progress”.
Eziada ‘Ego Ijeaku, from Emekukwu, Owerri North who works at Nigeria Shippers Council as Deputy Director, is the 2nd Vice President, she said “The past executive tried their best, but we shall try and supersede whatever achievement they recorded. “Of course you pray for your child to do better than you, so we pray that we are going to do better. We will take ISTDAL Women forward;
“We also pray that God will give us the wisdom, the knowledge and understanding, because without God we can do nothing, but with God in existence He will make everything possible,” Ijeaku said.
Hon. Mrs. Anne Ejuka, representing Naze, in Owerri North, the newly elected Public Relation Officer, (PRO) of ISTDAL, Women Wing, in her inaugural statement said, “As the image maker of the association said the executive will work as a team to improve and reposition the image of the Women wing better than they met it and even more than the past executives”.
She added, “With God on our side, we will touch all areas of human lives, the task is not an easy one, but with my executives and as the Image maker, we will fly the ISTDAL ‘Women Wing flag higher,” Hon. Ejuka stated.
Hon. Ejuka thanked God for the privilege given to her to serve her people and pray for His guidance throughout their tenure.
She also advised her fellow executives to apply wisdom, tolerance, endurance and knowledge in all that they do. to achieve the general goals of the transformation team of the association.
