In the bed to strengthen the move for women inclusion in leadership, Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) have again recorded another great success, as H.R.H. Igwe Hycent Amachi Okpe, of Inyi autonomous community in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu state, has successfully inaugurated seven women into their Igwe traditional cabinet.
Speaking in the occasion which took place at the Igwe palace in Inyi, the Executive Director WEPBI, Oguadimma Ijeoma Joy, told the cabinet members that Women Voice and Leadership (WVL) is a project sponsored by Globalafairscanada and supported by ActionaidNigeria which gears towards the increase of women participation in politics and leadership.
“The project is aimed at making sure women is recognized and included in the leadership and decision making process of their society” the ED said.
Oguadimma narrated to the cabinet how they started the journey by calling the traditional rulers for different meetings and engagements to convince them through peaceful dialogue how important it is to allow women into the leadership system of their communities.
Igwe Hycent welcomed and appreciated WEPBI for the move, and said that they are so excited for the development.
“We had selected these women since last year when WEPBI started coming to us, but today we are so happy that everything has come to pass as expected” he said.
The seven women who were present at palace, where presented with a certificate to validate their membership in the traditional ruling council of the community
Advising the women, Oguadimma told them that their inclusion in the cabinet is not for them to exchange power tussle with the men, but to engage in the meaningful decision making and contribute to the development of the community.
The women who were filled with joy could not hold back their joy, but poured out their appreciation to Globalafairscanada, ActionaidNigeria and WEPBI for the project.
“I am so excited and promise to contribute meaningfully to the discussions and development of Inyi Community” one of the women said.
The women got traditional titles like; Nze Nkechinyere, Nze Ugwunwanyi bu ife, Nze Ugo anaghi ebe na-aja and others.
The inauguration was attended by other community members including the men cabinet members who also showed their level of happiness and encouraged WEPBI to extend the marvelous work to other communities.
“Since we selected these women into our cabinet, they have been resourceful and we have recorded a lot of improvement in the running of the affairs of the community, and that is why we have today officially inaugurated them to be fully recognized as members of the cabinet” one of the cabinets said
Another male cabinet member said “I look forward to seeing the women cabinet members lend more voice and hands in the numerous strategic plans and developmental agenda of Inyi autonomous community”