The Parish Priest of Mater Dei Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Rev. Fr. James Akpamu, has urged Nigerian women to use their numerical strength to influence everything good in their homes to enable a better society.
He gave the advice weekend in Abuja, during the 2021 Reunion programme of the parish Catholic Women Organization (CWO), with the theme: “Role of Women Amidst Economic Hardship”.
This is as he urged CWO to collaborate with other women across the country and contribute to finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Rev. Fr. Akpamu noted the roles of mothers in the church as great support system who are always available for the church and their homes, stressing that it became expedient for women to get together and learn from each other better ways of surmounting challenges they face, and how to grow both economically and spiritually to the advantage of the nation.
“I implored our women to use their numerical strength to influence everything good in their homes in order to enable a better Nigerian society.
“The reunion is one of the ways the CWO has in bringing themselves together to encourage each other in participating in the church’s activities. They learn from one another and we hope to see them practice all the good things they learn,” he said.
Speaking on the topic “The Roles of Mothers amidst Economic Hardship”, a consultant Dentist with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Dr. Osagie Ikponmosa, said that economic and financial hardship is not new in the world as generations in the past had all experienced it.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the situation has been complicated by politics and insecurity.
According to him, this is not a time to panic, rather women should diversify and explore other creative ways of survival for themselves and families.
“This is not a time to be a full-time housewife, be creative to enhance your ability to survive. Dump every form of pride, be strong and strengthened, be prudent and always set your priorities right,” he urged.
The CWO President of the Parish Mrs. Cordelia Ajie, said the reunion became imperative following the need to encourage mothers on their roles as mothers and ways to surmount the current harsh economic situation.
She said, “The harsh economic situation is something of great concern to us and so we saw the need to organise a seminar where we brought in a resource person to speak to women on their roles as women in times of economic hardship.”
Earlier, Chairperson, Education and Enlightenment committee of the reunion, Mrs. Obi Clementina Chinaelo, explained that the annual event was aimed at reuniting women under one umbrella to participate actively in equal development and peace of the nation
