...As Wife of Council Chairman, Barr Empress Ugo-Ferdnand Hail Enugu First Lady’s steadfast advocacy, courageous leadership, unwavering commitment to promotion, protection of the rights, dignity and safety of women and girls
The Wife of the Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Barr. Empress Ugo-Ferdinand, has led the commemoration of the 2025 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in the council area, reaffirming the commitment of the local government to safeguarding the rights, dignity and safety of women and girls.
The sensitisation programme, held at the Igbo-Eze South Local Government Headquarters, Ibagwa Aka, was organised in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Enugu State, Her Excellency Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, and Custos Care Foundation. The event brought together women, youths, community leaders, stakeholders and advocacy groups to deliberate on pressing issues surrounding gender-based violence in both physical and digital spaces.
Speaking on the essence of the programme, Barr. Empress Ugo-Ferdinand noted that the initiative aligns with the 2025 global theme, “End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls,” which highlights the rising threat of technology-facilitated abuse. She explained that the engagement was designed to raise public awareness, promote safe and responsible use of digital platforms, educate participants on prevention strategies, reporting mechanisms and legal remedies, and strengthen community-based systems for protection, accountability and survivor support.
She emphasised that while digital violence remains a growing concern, offline forms of abuse must also be confronted decisively through education, advocacy and coordinated institutional response. According to her, empowering women and girls with knowledge and access to support structures remains critical to ending all forms of violence.
Barr. Empress Ugo-Ferdinand used the occasion to commend the wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Her Excellency Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, for her steadfast advocacy, courageous leadership and unwavering commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights, dignity and safety of women and girls across the state. She described the First Lady’s interventions as impactful and people-centred, noting that they continue to inspire grassroots action at the local government level.
She further stated that the sensitisation programme reinforces the collective responsibility of government, communities and individuals to challenge harmful social norms, demand accountability, strengthen institutions and advance inclusive policies that guarantee safe physical and digital environments where women and girls can live, learn and thrive free from violence, intimidation and abuse.
The event concluded with a renewed call for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the fight against gender-based violence remains consistent, visible and effective across Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area and Enugu State at large.
