Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has resumed his lecture series which were last heard at the end of his tenure as the governor of Enugu State in 2007.
As governor, the senator was a highly sought public speaker who delivered over 40 lectures on a wide range of national issues. Last weekend, he reenacted the lecture series on the invitation of the 1976 class of the Alumni of the Anglican Girls Grammar School, Awkunanaw, Enugu.
He treated the topic, “Dike Nwanyi Igbo: Amazons as leaders” in which he challenged Nigerian women of Igbo extraction to be enterprising both in business and in politics.
The former governor urged the women to emulate prominent Igbo women of old who excelled in politics and in businesses, adding that Ndigbo were known for their industrious nature, and as such it should be maintained by all and sundry as a mark of identity.
He therefore, encouraged the Igbo women to be aggressive in their pursuit of any endeavour, citing prominent Igbo women that had made Ndigbo proud in the past such as late Margaret Ekpo, who made a mark in politics to the extent that an a airport in Calabar was named after her.
According to him, other women of substance that made their mark included, Nwanyerua of Aba Women Riot fame, Ahebi Ugbabe; Nkpolo Nwagwudu-Elele; Flora Nwapa; Oyibo Odinamadu among others.
Applauding Ugbabe’s exploits, Nnamani, recalled that she was a woman who ran away from her kindred when she was about to be dedicated to an idol at Enugu Ezike in Enugu State and became influential to the extent that she was made a warrant chief in the colonial era which was the preserve of men.
“Ahebi Ugbabe rose from the status of a local girl to that of a village head, Warrant Chief and queen. In the case of Flora Nwapa she was an author of many books and later university administrator, later held political positions.
Going down historical lane he recalled the heroic role of Mrs. Nwanyeruwa spearheaded the famous Aba Women Riot of 1929.
He declared: “This legendary but iconic woman led the first documented Igbo women resistance that defined the character, integrity, poise and defiance of the Igbo race beyond masculine parochialism.
“Bravery and tact were deployed in the face of brazen brutality of the colonial despots. Pre-colonial coinages like to “make war” or “sit on a man” were reinvented by Nwanyeruwa to mobilize the courage and gravitas of Igbo women in order to withstand or better still conquer the illusion of fear.
“Women “made war” in 1929 to call attention to a number of situations that adversely affected their interests as women. They believed that the British colonial government would institute direct taxation on them. In 1927, the British had instituted direct taxation on men. It was rumoured that women would be taxed next, hence the resistance. “
The occasion was attended by dignitaries including Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state and the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma.
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