. . Honours Best Chapters, Outstanding Members; Seeks Support to Projects
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
A Non-Governmental Organisation known as Excellent Ladies of Valour and Steel (ELOVAS) Foundation International, has ended her 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) / Convention & Seminar, with the conferment of Distinguished Excellence Awards on her best chapters and outstanding members.
The AGM & seminar with the theme: An Excellent Lady of Valour and Steel; Who is She?, which was held at Archbishop Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno, Awka South L.G.A, Anambra State, from July 26-28, 2019, had the executive of the international Foundation as well as the coordinators, assistant coordinators and the secretaries of ELOVAS chapters from Nigeria and beyond, in attendance.
The mother chapter of the Foundation, ELOVAS Foundation Awka Zone I, was adjudged the overall best chapter for the year, 2019 while ELOVAS Foundation, Enugu Zone I, emerged the 2nd best chapter for 2019. This was even as ELOVAS Foundation, Nkpor Zone and her Ikotun counterpart, emerged the 3rd best each.
Lady Ifeoma Ijetta of Enugu Zone I won the Overall Best Chapter Coordinator Award with 100%, Lady Ukamaka Chukwuchetam of Awka Zone I won that of the Overall Best Chapter Assistant Coordinator with 88% while Lady Chinenye Anene of Nnewi Zone emerged the Overall Best Chapter Secretary with 88%.
Among other awards given out to members were the Distinguished Presidential Awards to the Secretary General of ELOVAS Foundation International, Lady Ifeoma Ezenyilimba for her outstanding excellent performance and hard work, and to Lady Edith Nnagbogu, the Secretary of ELOVAS Foundation, Iyana Ipaja Zone for her committed teachings in the Foundation’s daily activities.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Founder / President, ELOVAS Foundation International, QueenLady Ngozi Ekwunife, noted that the Foundation which was committed to her noble vision and mission, had over 50 functional chapters across the globe, empowered members through seminars and skill acquisition trainings, and had carried out many charity sensitization outreaches, among other achievements.
She solicited for supports from all towards the Foundation’s proposals of establishing of a health equity fund to assist the poor in offsetting their hospital bills, consolidating her quarterly sensitization outreach to schools and need for a secretariat.
The Founder / President, thanked God for his love and sustenance on the Foundation, commended all that graced and supported the event and congratulated the winners over their various awards. She tasked all members on active membership and commitment to the vision, objectives and activities of the Foundation at all levels.
Presenting her seminar paper on the theme, “An Excellent Lady of Valour and Steel; who is she?, the guest speaker, Dr Lady Ifeoma Okonkwo of Department of Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, described an excellent lady of valour and steel as one capable of doing great and brave deeds, and had exceptional strength to face challenges and win.
The guest speaker added that an excellent lady of valour and steel was an ideal manager of family income, an ideal mother and wife, a good administrator and leader in the house, who surpasses others in good qualities. She identified integrity, endurance, humility, kindness, trustworthy, courteous, firm, fair, hard work and industrious as the characteristics of ideal ladies of valour and steel.
Dr Okonkwo cited Ruth, Esther and Mary mother of God, in the Holy Bible; late Professor Dora Akunyili, Dr Stella Adadevoh (who championed the move that saved Nigeria from Ebola scourge in 2014), late Kudirat Abiola, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili as some of the examples of ladies of valour and steel. She described mothers as the central personality of the home and insisted that a lady of valour and steel ought to be humble, as according to her, there was nothing one would not get with humility.
In his remarks the chairman of the occasion, Professor Josephat Ogbuagu, mni, said skills and education were very important in the life of every individual. He urged the ladies to attach importance to the skill acquisition trainings they carry out in their chapters, and give their children proper education.
Professor Ogbuagu, mni, who is the chairman, Anambra State Primary Health Board, advised the ladies to at all times, guard their distinguished selling point as individuals, and not to be discouraged in being their very best. The chairman advocated for what he described as a malleable role between man and woman in a family so as to achieve positive goals.
On his part, the Director of Archbishop A.K. Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno, Rev Fr Emeka Anene, commended the group for what he described as the noble vision they were championing through the Foundation. He charged the members to build themselves and make lasting good impacts in their lives and society.
The event featured the presentation and launching of the Constitution of ELOVAS Foundation International.
