The Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu and chairman Proprietors of Private Universities in Nigeria, Prof Gregory Ibe has challenged women to emulate the dogged industrious spirit of exellence embodied by such women as Ngozi Okonjo Iwuala and Akunna Enwereuzor Cook.
Speaking on the heels of the celebration of International Women’s Day, Prof Ibe, appreciated the indispensable role played by women globally in the task of community development. Singling out Abia women, he encouraged the female folk to sustain their legendary support to men, which according to him “has produced seasons of outstanding sterling performances by Abia in vital sectors.” He contended that “without the role of Abia women who, in their often despised position as petty traders, are the actual soul of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise sector, our state may not have recorded the feat of being ranked the third most attractive destination for investment in the country, next only to Lagos and Abuja, as recently revealed by National Bureau of Statistics(NBS).” This assertion, according to him, “is supported by the gregorous spirit of the Abia petty business woman who is famous for retailing goods produced by the industries and big conglomerates dotting our state.”
He therefore charged women “to be continually challenged by the achievements recorded by such Abia amazons as Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, recently elected first female Director General of World Trade Organization(WTO) and Akunna Enwereuzor Cook, who was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs by President Biden of USA.”
Pledging sustained partnership with the female folk in the cause of achieving comprehensive development of critical sectors of the nation in general, and Abia in particular, Prof Ibe thereby wished them memorable International Women’s Day celebration.
