By: ADAKU UGWUDI
The heavens were calm, the sky was receptive.The air was steady. In all, the weather was clement and friendly.
It was a day of celebration. It was a day of boundless joy for women of Owerri Zone.
Never have they been so honoured and celebrated. It was a day that marked the dawn of a new era, an era of hope and good things to come henceforth for them.
It was indeed a gathering of the gorgeous women of the zone at Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
The gathering was the 2022 August Meeting. It was a unique event which had in attendance over 5,000 women under the auspices of Aladinma Associations found in the 232 autonomous communities in Owerri Zone.
And it was made possible by one man, a man of good conscience, respected and adored for his large heart, a heart of gold, a man whose antecedent is unprecedented.
He is Prince Alex Mbata, popularly called PAM, the All Progressives Congress,APC Imo East Senatorial candidate.
Mbata, a philanthropist and business mogul, was driven by his belief that, women are not only strategic partners in national development, but also assets to nation-building. They are the bedrock of the family. They are the foundation of the society.
It is on record that 70 percent of beneficiaries of Mbata’s several empowerment programmes, in the past five years, which has gulped close to N1 billion are women.
Mbata decided to go further to aid women in Owerri zone, by staging the biggest and largest gathering for them.
Wife of Imo State Governor, Chioma who attended the event in company of her husband, Senator Hope Uzodimma in her speech, was full of praises for Prince Mbata.
She expressed gratitude for his kind gestures as well as celebrating the contributions of women in building a better society.
Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Ada Okwuonu, eulogized Mbata for hosting the event, describing him as the man of the people, who in his private capacity has not relented in his continued support for women of the zone.
The State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, MacDonald Ebere, also showered encomiums on Mbata.
Ebere said; “I remain confident that with Prince Alex Mbata, our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, would comfortably win the next elections in the state, with a man such as PAM as our senatorial candidate in Owerri Zone.
“This is not the first time he is hosting a big event of this magnitude”.
Esther Igwe, one of the women from Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, who graced the event, also gave thumbs up to Prince Mbata for hosting the event.
“This is breath-taking and amazing. This is awesome. Prince Alex Mbata is God’s sent and I will never forget him and this day”, Igwe said.
Aside Igwe, those who know Mbata closely can vouch that only a man like him, filled with milk of kindness could execute such gigantic event targeted at uniting the women of Owerri Zone.
He did it, not counting his personal costs or partisan leanings.
His aim is to ensure a united, peaceful and prosperous Owerri Zone, where all women could unite for the good of the zone.
Prince Alex Mbata, a native of Ngwoma Obube Community in Owerri North LGA, genuinely understands the needs of his people.
And he has not relented in assisting men, women, the youths, the physically challenged in the zone.
He does this effortlessly, not because he has enormous wealth, but because it flows from his heart to do good.
To him, wealth is a gift from God which must be used to serve the needs of the people.
At the event, the women were graceful, gorgeous, splendid and shinning in their attires which added colour o the environment. In their songs were lyrics of thanksgiving to God for His gift of a caring and noble son, who has not relented in being benevolent to them.
The women danced, engaged in a march past to the admiration of all. it was indeed, a congregation of love and peace, a signpost of great and brighter future in Owerri Zone and Imo State in general.
Prince Alex Mbata in his usual humility, appreciated the mothers who had always bore the weight of carrying the family with pride, grace and grit in spite of the challenges.
He reminded them of the role God assigned to them and urged them to continue to discharge their roles irrespective of the odds. He assured them of his constant availability and readiness anytime they call on him.
Gift items were distributed to the women in the 232 autonomous communities, 250 bags of quality rice, 250 pieces of quality clothes and N1m to each local government (for the Women Associations).
Alex Mbata’s open display of love and affection for Owerri zone women, is a reflection of his passion to do more for women if he is elected to the Senate.
