ANAMBRA WOMEN HOLD 2020 AUGUST MEETING DESPITE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Reporter : UJU UDEZUE

As the 2020 August Meeting comes to an end  in Anambra State, a cross section of women has  commended the womenfolk for their struggle in helping to develop rural communities and ensure peaceful co-existence among their  communities.

Some women also used the occasion to call on church authorities to do more in assisting their members, especially the less privileged to win more souls to God. August Meeting is an annual homecoming of women from South East geo-political zone of the country.

During the event, Igbo Women in the diaspora and the cities travel back to their rural communities to meet with their local counterparts, to discuss matters pertaining to   community development, human development and other issues bordering the community.

However, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic this year impacted negatively on 2020 edition of the programme as it affected the number of women who attended the meeting across the state. Mrs. Maureen Igwenagu is one of the leaders of the Anglican Communion in Enugwu-ukwu community.

Mrs. Igwenagu while stating that the meeting was held under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol, explained that overwhelming need for community development propelled the organising the August meeting despite the pandemic. A mother, Chief Helen Ebisi, described the exercise as service to God and humanity, which she said could not go without a reward from God.

Chief Ebisi revealed that women in her community resolved to channel more of their resources, this year on human development to ameliorate the sufferings of the people, especially the indigent ones among them. She challenged women to always speak out in their difficult moments to enable them receive the  much-needed assistance.

Mrs. Loice Okeke-Mbachi, who for her part described women as pacesetters in Church development, noted that there were great benefits in holding the meeting. Mrs. Okeke-Mbachi however advised women to learn to save for the August Meeting and donate according to their resources to reduce stress. Other women, who spoke  with Radio Nigeria, likened August Meeting to source of knowledge and self fulfilment, if well planned and managed by couples as well as Church authorities.