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Tag: Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano

  • Obiano’s wife showers gifts on multiple birth mums

    Over 12 parents who gave birth to multiple children in the state last year have been presented with gift items by the wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

    The event, termed “Bounty Programme” was organised by the Ministry of Children and Women Affairs, Awka.

    The parents drawn from across the state were offered gifts items including bags of rice, tubers of yam, beverages for both babies and adults.

    Other items included toiletries, baby diapers and other relief materials as well as envelopes containing undisclosed amount of money.

    Presenting the items at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Mrs Obiano urged the parents to raise their children with the fear of God, so as to be good ambassadors of the state.

    She noted that children were gifts from God and should be carefully protected and guided.

    She said, “We want to honour and felicitate with you. Children are blessings from God and they have to be respected.

    “Some parents are not careful with their children. They are too busy to offer them proper attention, to be part of their character-molding as well as effect necessary corrections.

    “I urge you to offer them quality education to enable them to contribute meaningfully to growth and development of society.”

    Mrs. Obiano prayed God to grant the parents the wisdom and understanding to lead the children on the right path.

    Commissioner for Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue thanked the Governor’s wife for touching many lives through her gift and financial support to different class of people.

    She stressed that Mrs. Obiano had since the present administration, mapped out various measures to empower and support widows, youths and other women.

    She said, “the governor’s wife in the immediate past has built houses for widows, offered scholarships for the indigent and provided prosthetic limbs to many people physically-challenged.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr John Ndu, a journalist, whose wife gave birth to triplets, praised Mrs Obiano for her magnanimity which he described as unprecedented in the state.

    “Mrs Obiano has helped to restore hope to the hopeless and introduced a unique style of governance and remains accessible to the downtrodden.’

    “Apart from provision of prosthetic limbs and other empowerment support, Osodieme has helped re-unite some destitute with their families.”

    He urged other beneficiaries to extend their support to the present administration to further consolidate on their achievements.

  • Shelter for the needy in Anambra widows

    Three widows from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have been presented with keys to three two-bedroom bungalows by wife of the governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

    Another two-bedroom bungalow was also donated to an indigent family from Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

    The donations were made under the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) Housing for the Indigent & Widows project of the governor’s wife, with support of the UNDP.

    Presenting the house keys to each beneficiary, Mrs Obiano said the era of people living in dilapidated thatched mud houses was over.

    She restated her commitment to building more houses to improve the living conditions of widows and indigent families.

    She said, “I feel satisfied any time I see each beneficiaries of our modest gesture express happiness after receiving keys to their new houses. I must emphasise that the house belongs to the beneficiary and no one should disturb them.

    “The water borehole component is meant to serve occupants of the house and neighbours are free to fetch from the reticulation point outside and ensure it is well maintained.

    “CAFÉ project has built and donated over 22 houses under its free housing scheme; with the latest executed with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) towards improving human living condition.”

    Expressing appreciation to a businessman in the area, Mr. Tony Ezeani who graciously furnished two of the buildings, the governor’s wife urged others to emulate her to positively touching lives of the less privileged.

    In her brief remark, wife of Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mrs Oby Okeke commended the governor’s wife’s demonstration of love through CAFÉ projects and urged the host communities to support her efforts.

    In their separate remarks, the transition Committee Chairman of Oyi and Anambra East Local Government Areas, Engr. Nnamdi Nwadogbu, and Chief Pius Ifeadi, expressed satisfaction for Mrs Obiano’s free housing for the widows and the less-privileged, by the Governor’s wife and thanked her for remembering persons.

    Responding, the beneficiaries,  who were randomly selected to ascertain those in dire need of shelter, thanked the benefactor, praying for God’s guidance and sustenance.

  • Home for the homeless in Anambra

    After 35 years in which Mrs Roseline Anene was in limbo, battling mental health challenges, the 67-year-old is now not only rehabilitated but has a two-bedroom flat of her own.

    The house project was inspired by the wife of Anambra State governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

    The apartment is in Umudioka, in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor’s wife has also urged the well-to-do not only in the state, but outside, to help the less privileged in the society.

    The woman popularly referred to as Osodieme or the woman who follows in her husband’s footsteps, made the plea at the commissioning of the bungalow built for Mrs Anene at Umudioka village

    The building project was spearheaded by the Transition Chairman of Awka South Council Area, Sir Leo Nwuba.

    It was to assist Mrs. Anene who on March 2018 successfully recovered and was rehabilitated at the Nteje Home for mentally challenged.

    Mrs. Anene was declared missing and presumed dead by her family because she was away for 35 years, but reunited with the family through the effort of Obiano’s wife.

    The Nteje facility where she was rehabilitated is managed by a non-governmental orga-nisation (NGO) Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), set up by Mrs Obiano in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

    While presenting the keys of the house to the mother of four, Mrs Obiano commended the chairman for taking after the CAFÉ example and providing a house for Mrs. Anene.

    She said everyone thought Mrs. Anene was Yoruba, because usually spoke the language with her whenever she visited, describing her condition as touching and heart-rending.

    Mrs Obiano recounted the woman’s story of being picked-up and taken to the Nteje Home where she successfully responded to treatment before eventually revealing that she is from Umudioka in Awka South Council Area.

    She also called on the people to avoid stigmatising those who previously had physical or mental challenges so as to help them get properly re-integrated in the society.

    She also pledged to furnish the living room of the house with two beds, a set of furniture and two standing fans

    Earlier, Sir Nwuba thanked Obiano’s wife for the successful treatment and rehabilitation of Mrs. Anene.

    He noted that her charity work inspired him to support the widow in line with what CAFÉ was doing across Anambra State.

    He further pledged to cater for the feeding costs of the beneficiary for one week, which drew thunderous applause from the people.

    For the member representing Awka South 1 Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Dr. Nnamdi Okafor and his Orumba South counterpart, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, Obiano’s wife is God-sent in Anambra.

    The Commissioner for Social, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, as well as the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Uche Okafor, commended Osodieme for giving the less privileged reason to smile.

    Speaking with The Nation, Mrs Anene said that Mrs Obiano had written a story that would be told over generations.

    One of her sons, Mr. Chukwudi Anene, overwhelmed with emotion, equally thanked Mrs Obiano and the council Chairman for such a gesture.

    He told The Nation that the family would forever remain grateful to them.

    Chukwudi noted that the reunion with his mother has changed his life and those of his siblings.

     

  • Obiano’s wife wins leadership prize

    Wife of Anambra State governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano has won the Zik Prize for Leadership in Humanitarian Services for helping the needy in the state.

    Her Caring Family Enhancement Initiative or CAFÉ, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is said to have been championing the cause of the less privileged, even before her husband became governor.

    She is reputed to have been paying school fees to the poor, building shops, and houses, among other things, for the needy in the society.

    Before now, Governor Willie Obiano also won a similar price on governance, making it a double victory for the number one family in the state.

    Obiano said the honour to her “Osodieme”(one who compliments her husband) would spur her to do more especially for the less privileged.

    Through CAFÉ, Mrs Obiano has built houses for over 30 widows in the state who had nobody to cater for them. She also built toilet facilities for communities in the state in a bid to discourage open defecation.

    Many have equally benefitted from her scholarship programmes.

    Mrs Obiano has continually assured that her CAFÉ scheme would continue its humanitarian service to Ndi Anambra.

    She urged the people to continue to pray and support her husband’s leadership and NGO, for more results of good governance.

    Mrs Obiano said, “This means more work, once you are acknowledged for what you do it spurs you to do more”

    “My husband is working for Anambra State and I am supporting to ensure that things go well. I want to thank God Almighty for this recognition; for them to have fished me out for what I do”

    “I also want to thank my husband immensely because if he didn’t encourage me, if he didn’t allow me to follow my passion, I won’t have been able get to this height”

    “I also want to thank the organizers of the award, it shows that what they are doing has integrity, they don’t just bring people out to give an award; you have to earn it. I thank friends and well-wishers, and I dedicate this award to needy and struggling women particularly those in Anambra State” Mrs Obiano said

    For the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku who presented the award to Obiano’s wife, it was an honour well deserved.

    Anyaoku said, “In His Excellency Willie Obiano and Ebelechukwu, Anambra got two for the price of one. I must say that His Excellency Chief Willie Obiano the Governor of the State and Her Excellency, Chief {Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano who has earned the sobriquet of Osodie-eme, which translated, means, one who joins her husband in rendering good services.

    “ I must say that the philanthropic works that she has been doing has been very well presented by the gentleman who introduced her.

    “All I can say is that I recently discovered that added to her many gifts is the prowess of writing. I had the pleasure of reading An intimate biography of her husband written by her. It was a book I made the mistake of reading by half past 10 in the evening and it deprived me of my sleep because I couldn’t put it down till 3 am. It is an extremely well-written book.”

    ”So for all her good works, to the people of Anambra State; I must say that on the 9th of last month, I read in one of the newspapers that  Mrs. Obiano was responsible for getting home to her family a woman of about 72 years who was presumed dead for 35 years”

    Whereas Governor Obiano received the award for excellent leadership in public office in 2016, his wife Ebelechukwu, is recognized in the humanitarian category, the first of its kind since the institution of the Zik Prize in 1994.

     

  • Make positive impact in your community, Obiano‘s wife charged women

    Make positive impact in your community, Obiano‘s wife charged women

    Women have been charged to make positive impact in their community; this was said by the wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano at the Skill Acquisition and Economic Empowerment Programme which was organized by the Association of Anambra State Women Association, Lagos, (ASWAL) which was held at the National Stadium, Lagos.
    According to Ebelechukwu Obiano, women need to learn the skill of foresight. “Foresight helps us to pull the future into the present and transition from a position of reactive disruption to a proactive transformation”, she said.
    Ebele Obiano who was the Chief Guest of Honour at the programme which was tagged 21th Century Woman ; the critical success factors, this
    transformation is evident in the giant stride which is being recorded by Anambra State government, such as the exportation of farm produce by Anambra State government, numerous rehabilitation work which is on-going in the state; no more of traffic congestion; salaries are paid as at when due, among others.
    Aside from these, Ebele Obiano revealed how she has been putting smile on the faces of indigent in the state which she started way back in 1991 through her nongovernmental organization; Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) and the kind gesture she pointed out is continuous.
    Her words “The state has become a reference point in Nigeria due to unequalled achievement of Governor Willie Obiano”, she said.
    Speaking on the objectives of the Association, the President, ASWAL, Dr. Mrs. Nkiru Ifekwem said is to promote unity and unity under the friendly co-existence between the people of Anambra resident in Lagos on one hand and all citizens of the country on the other.
    According to Ifekwem, ASWAL in its over 25 years of existence  has embarked on plethora of people oriented programmes aimed at sensitizing aimed at sensitizing and uplifting Anambra women both in Lagos and Anambra State.
    “These programmes are in form of workshops, skill seminars, acquisition, trainings, health and political sensitizations, among others”, she said.
    The theme she pointed out goes along with the vision of ASWAL which is to be an Anambra woman in the centre of excellence with the right values and fully empowered for development and service to humanity.

    Make positive impact in your community, Obiano‘s wife charged women
    caption 2: Cross section of women during the procession at the event
    Speaking on the theme of the programme titled :21st Century woman; the Critical Success Factors’ the President, Association of Professional Women Engineers, Nigeria, Engr. Mrs. Felicia Agubata said women have and are still making progress on all spheres, however, the 21th Century presents a different profile and different possibilities. “We need to acquire the critical skills required for our forward thrust, more collaboration with men will help, no doubt, but women do not require slackening of standards to successfully pitch for the top jobs and positions”, she said.
    In her address, the Chief Guest of Honour, President, Virtuous Women International, Dr. Mrs. Felicia Okoye said when a woman is financially independent, she will not be ashamed. “As a woman, encourage your husband to do the right thing, be a pathfinder and a role model for your children”, she said.
    Other high points of the event was the empowerment segment whereby women were taught various skills such as perfume, air-freshner, soap making, insecticide among others, as well as the procession of women representing all local government areas in Anambra state residing in Lagos.
  • Obiano’s wife celebrates Xmas with inmates

    Obiano’s wife celebrates Xmas with inmates

    The wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has visited prisons to celebrate Christmas with the inmates and encourage them to be reformed.

    The prisons visited included the ones in Onitsha, Aguata and Amawbia. She also visited the Daughter of Charity Orphanage Home at Fegge, Onitsha.

    Mrs. Obiano told the inmates that as a mother, she brought a message of love “because Christmas is a celebration meant to be shared with loved ones, especially those restricted by circumstances.”

    Said she: “I came to celebrate with you because as the wife of the governor, I’m privileged to be the mother of all in the state. I see you as an important set of that one big family. The fact that you are here does not mean you cannot come out reformed, better than others and contribute to the progress of our state.

    “Always remember that you are in prison to be reformed and rehabilitated. “I bet, one of you may even turnout to be the governor one day. But for this to happen, you have to change and give your life to Christ.

    “I will always remember you in my prayers and I want you to also pray to God to change you.”

    The governor’s wife decried the large number of inmates awaiting trial. She assured that she would inform her husband, who would liaise with the authorities to ensure this was corrected.

    The Assistant Controller of Amawbia Prisons, Mr. Chris Akabueze, told her that the inmates were happy to receive her.

    “You can’t believe that some have not eaten because they are waiting for you.  “We are happy that you came. We need your assistance. We want our pumping machine to be repaired. We will also be happy if the fees of the inmates, who want to write the Junior School Certificate Examinations (JSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), are paid.”

    The Assistant Controller of Onitsha Prisons, Mr. Felix Ezengwo, thanked Mrs. Obiano for the love showered on the inmates and urged her not to relent.

    She donated items including one cow, bags of rice, noodles, tubers of yam, beverages, soap and detergents to each facility.

  • Obiano’s wife’s pet project to partner NYSC

    Obiano’s wife’s pet project to partner NYSC

    Anambra State First Lady Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has assured the Director of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State, Mrs. Inyang Bassey Ekpe, of her readiness to partner the corps in furtherance of the skills acquisition programmes of her pet project, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ).

    She spoke when the director led the NYSC team on a visit to her office at the Government House, Awka.

    Mrs. Obiano said she was thrilled that NYSC intervention went beyond the orientation programmes for corps members to include empowerment initiatives, which were in line with CAFE activities. According to her, “rest assured that we will work together in skills acquisition, which my pet project, CAFÉ, is doing by training women in skills. I believe that not only graduates are meant to acquire skills, now your people will collaborate with us to train others to be useful to themselves and the society.”

    The governor’s wife restated her belief that corps members could assist her in the empowerment programmes.

    She noted that the more people she engaged, the less the crime rate in the state.

    Her words: “I thank God for my husband Chief Willie Obiano’s foresight and approach to crime fighting. The improved security in Anambra is attracting investors and ensuring that our children serving here are living freely and are secure.”

    Mrs. Obiano told the director that CAFÉs’ collaboration with NYSC in education would include weekend and evening classes for women, who could not attend regular classes. She said: “Whether you are trading or engaged in petty ventures, you need knowledge to count your earnings.”

    The director told Mrs. Obiano that NYSC was happy with Governor Obiano because he had shown that he was NYSC- friendly.

    Said she: “The governor makes it a priority to secure and protect NYSC members. We note with satisfaction that almost all corps members got accommodated, while those who did not, were paid in lieu of accommodation.”

    Mrs. Ekpe told the first lady: “We came to appreciate you and your husband for the good work you are doing and to propose partnership with you in your empowerment projects, skills acquisition and community development. We teach the corps members and afterwards they go into the community to teach others.”