Faith Ogbonna, wife of the General Overseer, Joyful Assembly Bible Church, on Sunday urged women at the grassroots to step up their contributions to nation building.
Ogbonna made the appeal at the 6th Women’s Day Anniversary of the “Vessels of Wisdom” women group of the church in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In a sermon entitled “The Unique Woman,” drawn from the Bible’s book of Proverbs 14: 1, which says “Every wise woman builds her house but the foolish plucks it down with her own hands, the cleric’s wife urged women to bring their God-given potential to bear.
“Every woman is expected to contribute in very special ways to the society but its sad that even in this our generation several women, especially in the localities have yet to be fully entrenched to contribute to the political, economic and social welfare of our country.
“The absence of most grassroots women (wives) in businesses and trade has created a huge financial gap in homes, increased poverty and insecurity in our communities.
“Poverty may not be the only reason for the wide spread insecurity in the country but it is a huge contributor,” she said.
Ogbonna also urged women and all eligible voters in the church to take advantage of the forthcoming general elections to vote in credible leaders who would deliver democracy dividends to the people.
In the same vain, Mrs Akuoma Chinedu, leader of the group, called on the federal, state as well as the local governments to ensure equitable distribution of basic infrastructure across rural communities to check negative behaviour among youths.
Akuoma said that the high cost of privately-owned schools and medical care had posed huge financial burden on residents in some local communities.
“If our children, the supposed tomorrow’s leaders have no access to quality education, healthcare, drinkable water and electricity, the result will be grossly negative on the society.
“This is the more reason why government should strive to secure a better future for children in local communities.
“Its worrisome that even as we continue to record expansion in terms of new residential areas across states, public schools, government-owned medical and other essential facilities have remained a challenge to residents,” she said.
Responding, Pastor Matthew Ogbonna, General Overseer of the church, thanked the women for their initiatives and prayed for them.
He said that the group had over the years used their platform to impact positively and spiritually on families and the church through prayers and donations.
The highlights of the celebration were talkshow, drama, dance and music renditions.
