May 23, (THEWILL) – On Wednesday, former First Lady of Imo, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, in Owerri, said that her ‘2024 WODDI Summit’ will attract, at least, 400 women from all walks of life within and outside Nigeria, to the state.
She disclosed this at her Owerri Spitbat residence while fielding questions from journalists.
The five-day meeting will begin on Monday, May 28, and end on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
The ‘Women of Divine Destiny Initiative’, is the former First Lady’s brainchild, pledged to chaperon her ilk to get it right by occupying their God-given positions.
She said, “Before I talk about the reason why I’m bringing it to Imo State, I want to say why I’m bringing the programme in the first place. I’m passionate about the woman, I’m passionate about the family, about anything that has to do with society and the nation at large. And my heart centres on the woman.”
The maiden mega edition of the summit was held at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with the theme: “Inspired to be the complete woman.”
On the areas of empowerment, she said, “Mindset is everything -something that can put them in position to be able to put food on their tables, to know what is happening everywhere, not just in Nigeria, actually the whole world, to be sure that the woman, at the end of the summit, will be able to fill the gap God has asked her to fill, to make her win.”
Dr Okorocha expressed the hope that the programme was going to be the big brother of Africa.
Mrs Okorocha, who spoke glowingly about the upcoming summit, said the first edition had inspired several women and prevented them from committing suicide or throwing in the towel over life’s challenges, as the summit made them begin to have a rethink, to understand that they have what it takes to face the vicissitudes of life with equanimity, among others.
She expressed optimism that the second edition would be no different, as it promises to improve on the first gains.
“So, to the glory of God, we’ve recorded tremendous success as far as the WODDI inspiring summit is concerned. And we’re going to do much more, especially at the oncoming WODDI Inspiring Summit”, she stated.
Continuing, she said, “I just want to say that it is not only Imo women we’re expecting at the summit. We’re expecting a lot of women from across the country. We have the people that have already indicated their interests to come, drawing from what happened from the first outing,” adding, however, that the summit was open to sponsorship.
On the status of women expected at the events, Dr Okorocha said, “Both single and married women, because if you’re not married today you’ll marry tomorrow.”
She beckoned on every woman, young or old, “The woman is the nurturer. Every woman out there, I want to use this opportunity to make this clarion call: please this is the time for all of us to wake up and know that we can’t keep complaining.
“We must sit up so that our children will be okay, our husbands will be okay. The woman is key. It cannot be overemphasised,” she said.
The question of when such a similar programme will be organised for the men generated general laughter from everyone present. To which she replied that interested men will be allowed to participate as in the maiden edition.
Among those present on the occasion are Pastor Alphonsus Eberendu, Barr Ijeoma Igboañusi, among others.
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