_...Honours Justice George Nnamani As Group's Grand-Patron and Adviser
In a landmark move aimed at strengthening access to justice, promoting peacebuilding, and advancing community development, the leadership of Umuada Awgu Global (Umuada Awgu Progressive Women Association) today paid a high-level courtesy visit to the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice George Nnamani, at his office.
The delegation was warmly received by the President of the Court alongside other distinguished judicial officers in an atmosphere marked by cordiality, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to justice and societal harmony.
The visit provided a unique opportunity for meaningful engagement between one of the foremost women-led socio-cultural organizations in Awgu and the apex institution responsible for the administration of customary justice.
Leading the delegation, the Global President of Umuada Awgu Global, Amb. Dr. Chinemerem Anyi, delivered a compelling address highlighting the organization's unflinching commitment to promoting peace, justice, family stability, and community development.
In her speech, Amb. Anyi noted that peace cannot thrive where justice is absent, emphasizing that women, as custodians of families and communities, have a critical role to play in fostering social harmony and conflict resolution.
She explained that it was this conviction that inspired the establishment of the Umuada Awgu Justice and Peace Initiative, a platform designed to empower women as agents of peace, legal awareness, mediation, and community transformation.
During the visit, the organization formally presented three major partnership proposals to the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.
The first proposal was the Women and Justice Awareness Programme, aimed at educating women on their rights and responsibilities under customary law through legal literacy campaigns and community enlightenment initiatives.
The second was the Community Peace and Mediation Initiative, designed to equip women with mediation and alternative dispute resolution skills to help address conflicts at the grassroots level before they escalate into litigation.
The third proposal was the establishment of an Annual Customary Law and Women's Leadership Summit, envisioned as a platform for dialogue among judicial officers, traditional rulers, women leaders, scholars, policymakers, and other stakeholders on contemporary issues relating to customary justice, peacebuilding, leadership, and community development.
In what many members of the delegation described as a highly encouraging and historic response, Hon. Justice George Nnamani expressed strong support for the vision and objectives of the initiative.
The President of the Customary Court of Appeal commended Umuada Awgu Global for taking proactive steps toward promoting peace, justice, and legal awareness at the community level. He gave a nod of approval to the proposed areas of collaboration and assured the delegation of his willingness to partner with the organization in advancing the shared goals.
Justice Nnamani, however, emphasized the importance of maintaining balance in advocacy efforts, noting that while it remains necessary to continue championing the rights and welfare of women and girls, society must also ensure that boys do not become an endangered species in the process.
According to him, sustainable development can only be achieved when both males and females are given equal opportunities to thrive, contribute, and reach their full potential.
One of the major highlights of the visit was the formal decoration of Hon. Justice George Nnamani as the Grand Patron and Adviser of the Umuada Awgu Justice and Peace Initiative, in recognition of his distinguished service to justice, his commitment to peace and social harmony, and the invaluable guidance he is expected to bring to the initiative.
The symbolic presentation was greeted with enthusiasm by members of the delegation and judicial officers present.
The event was further enriched by warm hospitality as the visitors were lavishly entertained, reflecting the spirit of goodwill and mutual respect that characterized the engagement.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Vice President of Umuada Awgu Global, Prof. Becky Nnamani, expressed profound gratitude to the President of the Customary Court of Appeal and his team for the warm reception accorded the delegation.
She described the visit as a significant milestone in the organization's journey and expressed confidence that the emerging partnership would yield far-reaching benefits for families, communities, and society at large.
Observers have described the visit as a strategic step toward bridging the gap between community-based organizations and judicial institutions in the collective pursuit of justice, peace, and sustainable development.
As Umuada Awgu Global continues to expand its footprint in advocacy, leadership, and community development, today's engagement with the leadership of the Customary Court of Appeal is widely regarded as another bold statement of its commitment to building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive society.
Indeed, when women, communities, and institutions come together with a shared vision, justice becomes more accessible, peace becomes more sustainable, and society becomes stronger for all.
