Women of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, LGA, Enugu State, have thrown their weights behind the reelection of the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, saying the women of the area have never had it so good.

The women pledged their support on Wednesday during the 2025 edition of Isi-Uzo Women Convention themed “Beyond Protest and Role of Women in Community Development.

Speaking at the event, which drew a mammoth crowd of women, traditional rulers, political leaders and stakeholders of the LGA, the convener and wife of the Council Chairman, Mrs. Onyinye Obeagu, commended Governor Mbah for prioritising grassroots development, adding that the governor’s wife had greatly impacted the women and children of Isi-Uzo through her charity outreach platform, Custos Care Foundation.

“Isi-Uzo women have never benefited so much like this under any administration. We cannot thank our governor enough for all the projects going on across Isi-Uzo as well as some completed ones.

“We thank the Governor for the Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres and Smart Green Schools either ongoing or completed in all the wards of Isi-Uzo.

“We thank the First Lady for all she has done in Isi-Uzo and across the state courtesy of the Custos Care Foundation. This Foundation has greatly impacted the health and welfare of our women and children. Therefore, we shall continue to give our unflinching support to this government,” she noted.

The Council Chairman, Barr. Obiora Obeagu, also extolled Mrs. Mbah for her motherly role in championing women’s development.

“Isi-Uzo stands firmly with Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, as we work together to build a prosperous and inclusive Enugu State. Our mothers and daughters are the strength of our communities, and we thank you for standing by them,” he declared.

Barr. Obeagu assured the First Lady that his administration would continue to prioritise women empowerment, also ensuring that they were active partners in the development drive of the Council.

Responding, the Wife of the Governor, who was represented at the convention by Barr. Chidinmma Egonu, commended the women of Isi-Uzo for their industry and loyalty to the present administration and encouraged them to use the opportunity of the convention to create bonds, learn and develop capacity to unlock their many potential.

“I am deeply touched by the love and solidarity I have seen today in Isi-Uzo. Women are the heartbeat of every society, and this administration is committed to empowering you with opportunities in health, education, agriculture, and skills development,” she assured.

She further encouraged women to remain united and continue supporting the government’s vision.

“Together, we will build stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger Enugu State. I celebrate your resilience today,” Mrs. Mbah concluded.

Speaking, Mrs. Mbah, who was represented by the Managing Director, Custo Care Foundation, Dr. Blessing Egodi, commended Governor Mbah for the improved security in the state and the women of Isi-Uzo for their resilience and prevailing peace in their communities.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ify Ani-Osheku, commended the effort of the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Council on areas of health especially for enrolling 5,000 persons in the Health Insurance Scheme.

Dr. Ani-Osheku also enjoined the galaxy of women at the event to support the present administration in Enugu State and join in raising the bar of governance.

The highpoint of the convention was the distribution of empowerment packages and palliatives, including bags of rice, wrappers, and other household essentials to the women amidst chants of joy.

Women, especially widows, who received the items expressed gratitude to the First Lady, pledging to extend the goodwill to families across the LGA.

The event also featured colourful cultural dances, solidarity songs, and drama sketches by women groups showcasing the role of women in development.

Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his significant contributions to peace and stability across Africa.

The nomination, submitted by respected Angolan academic and international policy analyst Afonso Botáz, highlights President Lourenço’s effective diplomacy in mediating regional conflicts and his commitment to national reconciliation and justice.

In his official submission, Botáz commended President Lourenço’s “firm commitment to resolving regional conflicts on the African continent, based on the principle of peace.”

This has been particularly evident in his role as the African Union (AU) Champion for Peace and Reconciliation.

President Lourenço’s diplomacy has been instrumental in de-escalating tensions and fostering dialogue between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, preventing a near-certain slide into confrontation.

His steady mediation has also been crucial in stabilizing the Central African Republic, where he coordinated with continental partners to avert a deeper political crisis.

“President Lourenço’s brand of diplomacy rests on dialogue and respect for the sovereignty of other States,” stated Afonso Botáz in his nomination letter. “His work reinforces a deep commitment to the pacification of regional conflicts. It is a quiet, effective diplomacy that builds calm step-by-step rather than through mere ceremony.”

The nomination also cites President Lourenço’s domestic agenda, which has prioritized national reconciliation, institutional repair, and historical justice, including advocacy for reparations for African people. According to Botáz, these efforts have been vital in “restoring confidence in state institutions” and have provided the foundation for Angola’s credible and respected voice on the international stage.

“If the Nobel Peace Prize is meant to reward the dedicated practice of peace, then President Lourenço’s record presents the kind of steady, trusted leadership that the continent and the world benefit from,” concluded Botáz.

About President João Lourenço João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, inaugurated on September 26, 2017, is the third President of the Republic of Angola. A former Minister of Defense, his presidency has focused on economic reform, strengthening democratic institutions, and positioning Angola as a key diplomatic force for peace and security in Africa.

Source:  Afonso Botáz

The story of Nigeria’s economy, once told in the language of imports, queues, and ballooning debt, is beginning to change.

At the heart of this shift, according to Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, lies President Bola Tinubu’s insistence that the country must produce what it consumes.

Also in Ibadan, he spoke on Fasuyi, a management consultant, business school as the founder, and community leader-wove together a narrative that blended praise with a challenge. “When a country borrows to finance consumption, it mortgages its future,” he said. “But when borrowing is channelled into production and infrastructure, the nation prospers.”

He spoke against the backdrop of a debt profile standing at ₦149 trillion, 73 percent of it domestic. For decades, Nigeria borrowed heavily, often to fund consumption. That cycle, Fasuyi argued, “is being broken under Tinubu.”

Fuel he espoused tells the story best. “Nigeria, a producer of crude, long exported raw oil only to import refined products at great cost. The Dangote Refinery, now fully operational, has changed that equation. Filling stations once marked by endless queues are suddenly free, and refined petroleum is flowing not only across Nigeria but also into neighbouring markets. The savings are massive,”

This administration he noted deserved credit for tackling problems it did not create but addressing them head-on.

Agriculture, he stressed, is the next frontier. “If Nigeria consistently grows what it eats, the naira will stabilise, purchasing power will improve, and the economy will find firmer footing”.

Fasuyi did not dwell on economics alone. He told a wider story of Nigeria’s progress-population soaring from 63 million at independence to 230 million today; universities multiplying; infrastructure spreading; regions becoming 36 states. “We may not be where we desire,” he reflected, “but no society remains static. Growth is relative, and we have indeed moved forward.”

He challenged Nigerians to see governance as a partnership, not a spectator sport. With the Supreme Court’s ruling granting local governments financial autonomy, Fasuyi believed real change would come “if development starts from the bottom up. Communities hold enormous social capital. If tapped, it can transform Nigeria,”

On the World Bank, Fasuyi dismissed the notion of external sabotage. Loans, he insisted, “are not the problem-it is what nations do with them. China still borrows. The difference is discipline. Nigeria must follow suit,”

As he prepares to mark his 70th birthday in Ijesaland with nine days of cultural, spiritual, and developmental celebrations, Fasuyi frames his life milestone within Nigeria’s struggle for progress. With national life expectancy pegged at 62 years, he regards his own age as both a blessing and a mandate. “Attaining 70 is a dream fulfilled. My joy is to use this milestone to further champion inclusive and sustainable development,” he said.

For Fasuyi, Nigeria’s path is neither hopeless nor complete. His verdict is one of cautious optimism: with disciplined leadership, participatory governance, and a citizenry committed to production over consumption, the country is finally edging onto the right track.