By Zara Nwachinemere Abakaliki
Wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Rachel Ogonna Umahi, Wednesday organized a security summit for Ebonyi women.
Mrs. Umahi, during the summit which was held at the Christian Ecumenical Center Abakaliki, charged the women to always monitor the type of company their children keep, adding that those they associate with influence them greatly.
She said that majority of the youths into crimes today were largely lured into such acts by their associates.
The governor’s wife stated that mothers have great roles to play in reducing crime in the society.
She noted that when children, especially the teenagers are well raised crime in the society will reduce.
Mrs. Umahi, encouraged women to make friends with their children as such will help them to know when they are taking the wrong step, even as she warned mothers not to criticize their husbands before their children.
She also added: “the work you are doing in your family can only be paid by God not your husband or whosoever”.
“We should know that charity begins at home and manifests in public. When our children are well trained, the society will not only benefit positively from such a child but the world at large would feel his impact”.
“The Insecurity we are seeing today would be a thing of past if mothers should go back home and do our work which God has created us specifically to do.”
She told women to always pray to God be patient in all they do, and they will see God’s blessings manifesting upon them.
On her part, the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON) Ebonyi state chapter, Princess Chinyere Iyioku, commended Mrs. Umahi For organizing the Security Summit.
She pointed out that the summit was aimed at encouraging women towards building a home that the lifestyle of children will contribute to the development and peace in the state.
Iyioku, noted that the summit was timely adding that it came at a time that the country was facing serious security challenges.
She described Mrs. Umahi, as a woman of vision and commitment towards the security of lives and properties of the citizens of the state, noting that with the summit, woman who came from the 13 local government areas of the state would go home to enlighten their children on the need to be of good behaviours.
The ALGON Chairman, stated that different women groups were drawn from the security Sector, judiciary, the academia and others adding that the summit was all embracing.
She noted that among other things that featured at the summit was lectures, prayers and songs adding that with the prayers made by the women, Ebonyi State and the indeed the country will witness great turnaround.
One of the Guest Speakers, a Nollywood actress, Mrs. Ebele Okaro, decried the level of decay in some families today and expressed the regret that most women indirectly encourages their children even when it was obvious that they are going astray.
She enjoined Mothers to always find out whom their children goes out with, the company they keep and the association they join adding that with that, they can monitor and observe their lifestyle.
She said society will be better if mothers should know their enormous roles in society.
In her presentation, a Lecturer at Assembles of God Divinity School old Umuahia, Mrs. Ngozi Oganya, said women should be the gatekeepers in every home, stating “but you must first make yourself a role model before occupying that position of keeping the gate”.
