Nigeria’s former Women Affairs Minister, Iyom Josephine Anenih, says women are pivotal to restoring peace in the Southeast region in particular, and the country at large.

 

Iyom Anenih stated this ahead of the 2023 annual conference of “Nkata Ndị Inyom Igbo” slated for twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth October in Enugu and Ebonyi States respectively, and with the theme, “Women: Unifying Force in Peace Building”.

According to the former Minister, the conference will examine the subject matter and center discussions on the roles women can play to ensure that peace returns to the country, with the sole aim of starting the process of healing the country.

 

She lamented that the country had been unnecessarily broken and polarised for a long time across ethnic, religious and political lines, stressing that the group seeks to intentionally close the gap.

While advocating oneness in Nigeria, Mrs. Anenih pointed out that women are the thread that can potentially sew up the country, citing example with herself whose children are all Esan, even though she is Igbo, likewise many other women married elsewhere different from their ethnic groups.

 

The conference, which will feature the presence of the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, Oby Ezekwesili, Professor Chidi Odinkalu and many other speakers from all over the country, will also address issues around the economy, agriculture and politics.

“Nkata Ndị Inyom Igbo” is a foundation for Igbo women by birth or marriage, founded three years ago as an avenue to discuss the affairs and challenges affecting women with a view to addressing them.