Umuezeiyi Women Lagos Branch in search of N50m to uplift the downtrodden, embarks on calendar launch, fundraising
By Charity Nwanyieze Nnaji:
The real essence of town union and communal living came alive on Sunday, November 16, 2025, when the women of Umuezeiyi Village of Achina, Anambra State, Lagos Branch, gathered the creme de la creme in, not just Achina Community, but the entire world at the popular Welcome Centre Hotel in Lagos, for the purpose of supporting worthy cause.
It was the launch of the 2026 Calendar and ambitious N50 million Fundraising ceremony designed to empower the less privileged women in Umuezeiyi.
From their beautiful attires to the elaborate arrangements put in place, it was clear the women were resilient and confident to realize the target they have sent for themselves and true to their goal, money flowed like a river on the day.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina, Eyimba, Ezechimereze na Achina, expressed his deep convictions in the purpose of the initiative and expressed his support. “I am here to show patriotism to my people, to show I am from Achina Idegwu, a town noted for progress, unity, peace and civility. I also want to help our women mobilize and raise fund for the upkeep of the needy and empower the downtrodden of Anambra State, Nigeria.
“I am here to pilot the affairs of our women, in their efforts to generate fund for the downtrodden, that is why I am here, to coordinate the activities, to equally give them money, to talk to our people, our sons and daughters and our visitors to give them money for this very important and good intention they have,” he stated.
Apart from his assurance that the women would realize their dream, Chief Umenzekwe also known as Ugodiebube 1 of Amesi, advised the beneficiaries of the donations. “Right from the scratch, they have been getting encouragement, money would flow like river today. Umuezeiyi is a village, it is the largest village in Achina, the population is even more than the population of some towns in Anambra State. So when you talk about Umuezeiyi, you talk about Achina. What these women are doing is worthwhile, they want to show leadership, they want to show example, they want to show capacity and we are here to encourage them, and to support them.
“The women to benefit from this initiative should make judicious use of whatever revenue they generated today to assist in the development of the town, human and infrastructural development,” he said.
Known for his passion for his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Umenzekwe urged Nigerians to cooperate with the president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his efforts to reposition the country. “Let’s give Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the chance to reform, to reorganize, to revitalize the entire country.
Mrs Ngozi, Ojiugo Nwobodo, (Ejemmiri) a philanthropist and a member of the organising committee. “I am a member of the organizing Committee of the empowerment project, designed to empower widows, the less privileged. We discovered that women are suffering due to the hard economic situation in the country, globally not just in the country. We have this kind of empowerment in 2010, but this time we want to take it up a bit higher so that we can alleviate the sufferings of women of our people. We intend to give them cash, it depends on what they want, because we intend to interview them, we actually want to speak with them one on one, to know what their desires are. Some want to be empowered, some have ideas but they don’t have money to executive them. We will give them money to executive such businesses. Nevertheless when we interview them we will know their areas of interests, some may want to learn skills, those ones, we sponsor them, so that they will be totally independent. We don’t have their number now but what we intend to do is to appoint leaders from each kindred, to fish such people out. The empowerment is not only for people in Lagos, I can assure you, it will be extended to those living in the villages, as long as they belong to this Umuezeiyi.”
She further threw more light on the preparations that have been put in place. “We have cultural displays, women are coming out to dance, Opuruiche Dance is the name, there is Itunya, somebody will be singing while others will be demonstrating and gesticulating.
“My advice to the would-be beneficiaries is to first of all know what they want to do, have a vision of what you want to do, settle it with God, then prayer, this is what I want, once you are satisfied, you have peace in you heart, that is the first step, then with that whatever support that is given to you, physically, financially, you will succeed,” Mrs Nwobodo assured.
Mrs Ifeoma Kate Azike, “(Odiukonamba 1 of Achina) the Coordinator of the event, was full of conviction that the women group would achieve their set goals. “This is empowerment, where we want to uplift our women who are incapable of looking after themselves, those who are unable to feed and train their children, those who don’t even have transport fare to attend our meetings, so after a painstaking consideration of the matter, we decided that we are going to empower them. Some have wonderful ideas as to what they want to do, but they don’t have money to embark and execute their vision and ideas.
“With this we believe they will invest and from the proceeds they will be able to pay school fees for the children, many of the children have dropped from schools because of money. This time we took time to organize this empowerment and we have invited all and sundry. We believe they are all here, and we are going to realize or goal,” Mrs Oraekwe stressed.
Chief Anthony Onyiliagha (Emesuodike na Achina) was full of praise for the women. “Today is our day because Umuezeiyi Women Wing Lagos Branch initiated plan to empower their less privileged sisters, widows or even those who have husbands but they do not have any tangible things doing. These women group has done an empowerment like this about 15 years ago, and today another administration, a new era, deemed it fit to embark on similar project to raise N50 million; from what happened here today, that dream is achievable. My prayer is that those that will be given this money, they should remember it is someone else’s money, they should use it judiciously for their own good. Those who planned this made it for good, with good intention for their own betterment. By putting the money into investment, from the yield, they will be able to feed and pay school fees for their children. I thank Ngozi Nwobodo for being a motivator,” he stated.
Another Guest, Chief John Udekezie (Ezechinyelugo 1 of Achina) on his part, said the occasion was worthwhile, because it has to do with empowerment. “We are all aware of our financial status in Lagos, Nigeria and the world in general, there is downward economic trend and Nigeria is not an exception in the global village. The women therefore thought it wise that all fingers are not equal, whom the lord has blessed should bless others. Whatever you’re given does not really belong to you, you are only a custodian. That is why the bible says the more you have the more problems you have. In giving, you receive, and in receiving that you give.”
Earlier, Mrs Oraekwe Ikiru (Oyiridiye) President, Umuezeiyi Village, Achina, Lagos Branch told the world the purpose of the fundraising. “Actually, today we decided to call individuals and our town people to help us raise small fund to help our women, there are some of our women that are doing something but that business or thing they are doing is not reasonable and there are some of them that are doing nothing. And we looked and concluded that it is necessary that a woman should be doing something in order to help her husband. Based on this, we the EXCOs and the good people of our village, we reasoned that it is necessary to empower these women. Already we got the report there are some of our members, because of the situation in the country, some of them are relocating to the village, not intentionally that they want to relocate, but because of the pressure of what is going on in the country, the hardship, even to the extent that we got the report that because of this kind of thing, our member was ejected from where she was living and she moved to a market square with her belongings. This is not palatable to us, so we decided to do this kind of a thing to help people like that, so that even if she wants to relocate, she would relocate nobly.”
Mrs Oraekwe disclosed that the amount to be given to the beneficiaries would be based on the funds realized, adding that the money is purely to empower the less privileged women. “When we began this initiative, we told them that this money is not for you to go and pay house rents, even school fees, no. But they are going to, by the grace of God, when they invest, then from the proceeds, they will be able to pay house rent and pay school fees, so it is purely for business and we have put modalities in place to monitor their progress, if we don’t, some of them will squander the money.”
Mrs Oraekwe who said invitations were extended to Achina indigenes and friends of Achina all over the world, added that many have started to send in their own donations having seen that the fundraising is for a noble cause.
In a lighter mood Mrs Oraekwe stressed that any woman who is not married in Achina Town is missing a lot, said ,”Achina men, they are wow, they are so wonderful that whenever you call them, they would answer you in such a way you would not even know how to testify.”
Mrs Mercy Onyiliagha, (Dibundonwanyi), Chair Lady, Planning Committee of the Calendar Launch and Fundraising, said that her team has put everything in place for a successful occasion. “I and my team members, I think we are doing good, to ensure that everything is going according to plans. Everything is in place and from what you can see everything is moving beautifully well, our guests have started responding and by the end of the day, we must have achieved our purpose.”
Speaking on what has been put in place to make the event colourful she disclose, “A lot have been put in place, We have concerts, we have the Opuruiche Dance, we have Presentation of our Queen, the Queen of Umuezeiyi Women Wing Lagos Branch. And we have item seven, we have a lot; cuisines for which Achina is known, we have ukwa, azu, and others.
