The Pan-African apex Anambra women group led by Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke JP is known for advocacy for women inclusion and participation in politics irrespective of states of origin, religion and language barriers all over the world has continued to make significant efforts to keep human rights on the front burner. A group which has gained massive acceptance and popularity and hailed for rewarding, appreciating and encouraging women of Igbo origins for making remarkable philanthropic, ethical and economic contributions towards the growth and development of their immediate environment.
In a statement made by the founder of the cherished women group, Ambassador Amaka Nweke thanked Dr Adaora Umeoji for understanding the importance of giving back to her immediate community not minding her citizenship and going far and beyond to make both Anambra State, Nigeria and entire women proud, stating that every individual is responsible to fulfilling both their moral and civic duties and actions that must benefit fellow humans for the welfare and peaceful coexistence in the society. While appreciating Dr. Umeoji for working assiduously to make the world a better place, she enjoined all women to emulate her lifestyle.
In the same vein, the Global President and the founder of Anambra Women General Assembly AWGA, Amb. Nweke congratulated Dr. Prudence Chukwubundo Chuma-Udeh For achieving a great academic feat, beating the 40 (fourty) medical students who emerged out of the 5,000 (Five Thousand) that participated in the primary examination in surgery to become the highest in the entire West Africa. She called her "a woman of substance".
In her outcry for a united Nigeria with fairness on women gender and inclusion of non-indigenes in the scheme of things, Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke went further to enjoin the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to imbibe true federalim in his administration by involving other Nigerians and women who are indigenes of other states residing and doing businesses in Anambra, as this will futher give Anambra women and citizens the impetus to boldly continue to seek relevance and inclusion in other parts of Nigeria in line with the aphorism "Charity Begins at Home".
"Nigerians speak so glowingly about oneness but their actions are against oneness. The issue of ethnic difference and suspicion has been so ingrained in Nigerians that even little children of less than 10 are very conscious of it. There is a non-thawing mindset that people from outside the state or ethnicity are permanent strangers who can reside in the state but should never see themselves as full stakeholders in their states of residence. Ironically, the same Nigerians who feel this way assert themselves fully in other countries where they reside. They have citizenship rights or residency rights. They vote in elections. They stand for elections. They win elections and hold different offices proudly in other continents. They shout “racism” anytime someone tries to treat them differently in the country of their residence. But somehow, they argue strongly with a safe conscience that it is alright to treat their compatriots differently and deny them certain rights in their own country. Yet, if you ask such people that Nigeria should break up into different countries, so that non-indigenes can become foreigners in their place of residence, they will fight against the idea ferociously.
Most Nigerians don’t understand clearly what federalism means. The country has also not done much to make the citizens understand what federalism means. The Nigerian Constitution still recognises citizens from their state of origin rather than their state of residence. The citizens pay taxes and contribute to the growth of their state of residence. Their population is used during census to get a high population figure that helps to determine the amount of allocation the state receives every month. But when it comes to rights, they are reminded that they are not “indigenes”. There is a need that we clear the stigma while fighting to make Nigeria and our society a better place. I won't forget to commend our leaders who are already doing their best to change the narratives. I also appreciate indigenes who continue to strive to make contributions and bring development to their place of residence, may the almighty God continue to bless them. Together we shall make the world a better place" she prayed.
DG
Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA)
