By Anayo Okoli, Vincent Ujumadu, Steve Oko, Chinonso Alozie, Alumona Ukwueze, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Chimaobi Nwaiwu & Emmanuel Iheaka

ENUGU— ORDINARILY, this period every year, the vibrant Igbo women are very busy with preparations for their annual ritual -August General Meeting. This gathering provides them great opportunities to discuss diverse issues such as ways to develop their communities; share views on morality among themselves, encourage sustaining homes through legitimate means, support the rural women and the churches, as well as execution of projects in their various communities.

This is always a good time to foster unity among the people and the communities. Originally, the concept of the August meeting was rooted in self-help among women and rural community development but has in recent times, expanded to include conflict management; peace-building, and human development in rural communities. It is something the Igbo woman eagerly looks forward to annually. But with this biting economic situation and insecurity in Igbo land, this important annual ritual seems to be threatened this year.

Besides, Igbo women usually look forward to the August meeting as it also serves as a holiday period for many and an alternative period to Christmas and New Year celebrations when they meet their loved ones.

But the present security situation in the country seems to have brought the August meeting to its knees such that the women now fear to gather to discuss in their villages, in addition to the excruciating economic hardship Nigerians are going through now.

Mrs. Christiana Nwokike, the woman leader of Umuanuka village in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, confirmed the security situation in Igbo land has stagnated August meeting.

She said: “For the past two years, we have not done physical August meetings because of insecurity. What we have decided to do in the interim is to contribute money and send home for the execution of projects we have mapped out.

“Besides, the high cost of transportation has made it very difficult for us to come from our various places of abode for the meeting. Apart from exorbitant transport fares, there is so much hardship such that many families can no longer afford three square meals and so, cannot even concentrate if the meeting is convened”.

W’re raising funds to subsidize travel expenses of women going to August meeting —IWA

However, the National President of Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, said the group has decided to raise money to support Igbo women travelling home for their annual August meeting to mitigate the financial burden on them. Lolo Chimezie decried the harrowing hardship in the country, regretting that it might have adverse effects on this year’s August meeting, hence the decision by IWA to support the women especially those outside the South-East region who will be travelling home for the meeting.

IWA, therefore, appeals to patriotic individuals and organisations interested in the advancement of women to donate to the fund.

She further hinted that IWA had put in place robust empowerment programmes for Igbo women during the annual homecoming, which includes educating Igbo women in various communities on how to export some locally produced crops abroad to earn money. She also said IWA would embark on aggressive sensitization of women on farming especially the kinds of crops with high export value.

The IWA President appealed to husbands and men who have the welfare of women at heart to support women travelling home for the August meeting.

W’re not yet certain of holding the meeting

The President of Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, (home and abroad), St. Joseph Catholic Church, Imufu, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mrs. Stella Mamah hinted that there is uncertainty regarding their preparedness to hold this year’s meeting on account of paucity of funds to adequately procure things needed for the annual meeting in the parish.

Though she expressed hope that the meeting would be held, she, however, said there may not be the usual massive return of the abroad members of the parish due to the high cost of transportation and other attendant hardships occasioned by the ravaging economic hardship in the country.

“We used to cook during the August meeting every year but the cost of preparing the food is on the high side. We have decided to hike the price of the food to cover the cost of items which would be used in preparing it. We fear that many of our members abroad may not return due to the high cost of transportation.

“I foresee a low-key August meeting this year because of widespread hardship and insecurity in different parts of the country,” Mrs. Mamah said.

In Imo State, women spoken to in Owerri expressed mixed reactions over their plans to travel for the meeting. Many of them expressed doubt over their attendance of the meetings in their communities; citing the current insecurity and economic hardship facing families as reasons.

Madam Eucharia Amobi of Amaram Street in Owerri, said: “It is not easy this year. It has been from one challenge to the other in this country. Nothing is moving well and the government is doing nothing about it. Travelling home for the August meeting is not the problem, the problem is what you must buy to give to the people at home.

“You have to take care of yourself and your family members. This year’s August meeting is a no for me.”

Similarly, Mrs. Angela Emeh of Ohima Street said: “We are talking of food scarcity now. There is no food. Nigerians are dying of hunger. We are complaining that things are not moving smoothly. Yes, travelling home for the August meeting is good but we have to face reality. Our people are suffering, simple!”

However, a food vendor on Wethedral Road Owerri, Mrs. Sisi said: “I am from Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State; it is not about the August meeting, it is about insecurity in our communities. Yes, calmness is gradually returning and our people are appreciating the efforts of the Joint Security Taskforce. They are doing a lot to secure our people. The problem is the fear of attack. However, let us wait and see how it goes.”

Those outside have told me they won’t return —CWO

The President of Catholic Women Organisation of St. Mary’s Parish, Umuopara, Nguru Obetiti, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Amb. Jane Ogu said many people living in Lagos and other far areas have called to inform her they won’t be returning for the meeting. Amb. Ogu stated that there is every indication that this year’s meeting will not boom like previous ones due to the biting economic hardship.

The woman leader also disclosed that they failed to meet the target of completing the building of a hall project this year due to the inflation rate.

She expressed hope that the Federal Government would do something urgently to arrest the situation.

“This year’s August meeting will not be like previous ones. Many people residing outside here have already called me to tell me they won’t return for the meeting.

“You know the meeting involves home and abroad residents. We are not even sure of those in Owerri; maybe, they will send delegates.

“We had planned to have this year’s meeting in our new hall, but we couldn’t complete the project as planned, due to the high cost of things.

“Government should do something urgently to tackle the situation. Let them return fuel subsidy so that price of fuel and other commodities can reduce,” she submitted.

We must travel for August Meeting, irrespective of economic situation

A community woman leader in Mbano, Imo State, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwaokoro said the never-die spirit of Ndigbo will encourage them to attend the meeting, saying that it is a special gift from God to Ndigbo.

“Whether you are a man or a woman in Igbo land, that spirit is inborn in us, we are never discouraged and we don’t give up no matter how hopeless a situation may be, we still march on.

“So, while we acknowledge the economic situation in the country which is nothing to write home about, we do not joke with things that uplift us and our lives and bring development to our communities.

Whether anybody likes it or not, whether the cost of transpiration is high or not, Igbo people will always go home during Christmas and New Year celebrations, this also applies to when we Igbo women go home for our annual August meetings, that is what makes us Igbo.

“August meeting is once a year ceremony, we don’t just start the preparation one month before the meeting; we start preparing for it after each year’s meeting. We are Igbo and that is why we are Igbo and will remain Igbo.

“August General Meeting, is important to us and we give it the attention and time it needs, it provides us great opportunities to unite, interact and embark on various development projects and programmes in our communities.

“Yes the biting economic situation is there, and will always be there but it cannot stop us from attending the meeting, we can cut down on unimportant things we don’t need, and go for the most pressing and necessary items for the meeting and other logistics, but we must travel for the meeting because we are Igbo women and will always remain what we are and do things that seem to be our trademark no matter the economic and social situation. No apology”.

No information for August Women meeting yet in Abia

In Abia state, there is no information yet on whether the annual August women’s meeting will be held this year.

SEV gathered that the annual August women’s meeting which is usually hosted by the office of the wife of the Governor, and attended by women groups from the 17 council areas of the state, is christened, Abia Women Annual August Delegates Conference, AWADEC.

SEV couldn’t confirm whether the event would be held as there is no official information from the office of the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, who is said to have traveled overseas. The officials who pleaded anonymity couldn’t also confirm whether the usual format of the event has been changed by the new administration.

SEV also gathered that past editions of AWADEC featured medical outreaches, distribution of empowerment items, and physical interactions on problems confronting women in society.