Anambra Stakeholders have thrown their weight behind ‘Empower Her Now’ initiative.
The stakeholders charged women to embrace self-discovery, skills development and collaboration with men as critical pathways to achieving sustainable empowerment.
They made the called at the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration organised by MAWLIF Concepts
The event, held in Awka, Anambra State, brought together professionals, academics and development advocates who emphasised the need for deliberate investment in women’s growth and leadership.
The programme was organised with the support of several institutions, including The Light TV Show, Integral Development Konsult (IDK) Learning Centre, Princeton Specialist Hospital and Orthopaedic Centre, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Cisco Networking Academy, Emoji Digitals and 9JA Edu Games.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Professor Kate Omenugha, called for a holistic approach to women’s empowerment that addresses educational, economic, psychological, social and material needs.
Represented by the Director of the university’s Centre for Gender Studies, Dr Njideka Ebjsi, Omenugha stressed that genuine empowerment requires an enabling social environment that encourages women to develop their capacities and contribute meaningfully to national development.
She also underscored the critical role of men in promoting gender inclusion, particularly in creating opportunities for women to occupy elective and appointive positions in governance and other decision-making structures.
In her welcome address, the convener of the 2026 MAWLIF IWD event, Dr Ify Aronu, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between global conversations on women’s empowerment and grassroots engagement.
Aronu, a United Nations Inter-Agency representative, noted that the platform enables women and vulnerable groups to openly discuss issues affecting them while working toward the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said the global theme for the 2026 IWD underscores the importance of investing in women, while the local theme — “Give to Gain” — highlights the urgency of empowering women now.
“Families grow stronger, communities become safer and economies become more productive when women are empowered,” Aronu said, stressing that empowerment must extend beyond rhetoric to deliberate action.
She introduced the concept of MVSFB — Mind, Voice, Skills, Finances and Body — as the core pillars of women’s empowerment.
“We must empower her mind with education and exposure, her voice to speak without fear, her skills to compete and lead, her finances to build independence and her body through access to health and safety,” she said.
