ISTDAL inaugurate the New President and Executives (Women Wing)

 

The Imo State Towns Development Association (ISTDAL) women wing inaugurated their new president and executives yesterday. See below some photos from the event and also the speech by the out going president of the association Mrs. Lady Blessing A. Mbonu

See the below speech by the out going president

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY LADY BLESSING ANYADINDU MBONU, KSJI; TWO-TERM PRESIDENT OF ISTDAL WOMEN’S WING(2010-2016); ON THE OCCASION OF INAUGURATION OF THE NEW EXECUTIVES OF ISTDAL WOMEN WING, ON THE 24^TH JANUARY, 2016.

PROTOCOLS!

It is a great pleasure to be present at this occasion of Inauguration of the Women Wing new executives of Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos. I thank Almighty God who has made it possible for us to see the year 2016.

I seize this opportunity to congratulate all the newly elected officers in their various elective positions and salute the courage of those who came out boldly to contest but lost. According to Abraham Lincoln in a letter to His son’s Teacher “Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. That is the spirit of sportsmanship. He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day.” I must also commend all our women despite all the turbulence created during the campaign; we are together as one big family. In politics, there is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy but common interest.

Before I advance further, please permit me to take a walk down memory lane in order to bring to the fore the very huge impact ISTDAL has had on my own life.  From the period I registered in ISTDAL on 27^th July 2001 up till now, ISTDAL has continued to attract positive media attention through its laudable activities and programmes.  I am sure that similar Associations in Lagos are trying to emulate ISTDAL whose activities have come to be reckoned with. 

I recall that we midwifed the women empowerment project in ISTDAL while I was under the leadership of my predecessors.  I must commend the teams that worked with us in carrying out the women empowerment programmes.

When I was inaugurated as the 3^rd President of the ISTDAL Women’s Wing on 27^th January 2010, I was filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I was excited to have been bestowed such a great honour by ISTDAL Women. On the other hand, I was humbled that by the grace of God my contributions to our great association through the past positions that I held brought me on board. I took up the challenge with a high sense of responsibility to serve, share my humble thoughts with my sisters and brothers in the Association on issues of common interest, to execute the programmes outlined in my manifesto for the upliftment of ISTDAL and to have posterity to judge me.

During my tenure as President, we empowered over 200 ISTDAL Women. Various items such as sewing machines, grinding machines (big and small), coolers, bags of rice, clothes,  head and hand dryers, cash donations etc., were distributed on different occasions of women empowerment programmes to alleviate poverty and idleness. Also, workshops were held for skills acquisition to make beads, liquid and bar soaps, disinfectants, custard, air-freshener, decorations, etc. 

We held beauty pageants during the August meeting in Lagos, and scholarships were given to deserving persons. Let me at this juncture, place on record, the supports I received from Eze Dr. Hyacinth Ohazuruike, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and some noble sons and daughters of Imo State including corporate bodies and the entertainment industry towards the actualization of the objectives of ISTDAL.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, special mention must also be made of the support our Grand Patron Chief M. I. Okoro gave to ISTDAL in granting entertainment at meetings when I was made the Chairperson of the welfare committee. Such a kind gesture was the first of its kind, and highly recommendable to other patrons and grand patrons.

My deep appreciation goes to my predecessors, Pioneer President Lolo Ann Ogbughara (whom I served under her leadership as 2^nd Vice President) and Lolo P. E. Osigwe (whom I also served under her leadership as 1^st Vice President) for supporting me with their prayers, advice and goodwill.  I say thank you and God bless you. By God’s grace, they shall be receiving award on “DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD”.

This address is also about our stewardship during my two-term tenures as President. Stewardship is a way of life, a life of accountability and responsibility, acknowledging God as Creator and Giver of all. Stewardship involves responsible management of our God-given resources of time, talent, and treasure. Stewards as disciples of Jesus Christ see themselves as caretakers of all God's gifts. ISTDAL Women are beautiful and talented. I want to encourage our women to maximize their God-given potentials, as the benefits are enormous and quite rewarding.

God in his infinite mercy inspired us to achieve success of which some are recorded below:

We organized six (6) major events and several sub-events during my six years Leadership as ISTDAL Women President namely:

1.    2011 – Imo Women Summit and Empowerment.  Topic: Women in Politics and Empowerment; through which over thirty (30) communities received ten thousand Naira cash (₦10,000.00) each with sewing machines shared to the three zones;

2.    2012 -  Imo Women Summit – Topic: The Role of Women in Nation Building and Empowerment;

3.    Organized workshop on soap making, custard, disinfectant, air-freshner,etc;

4.    2013 -  Imo Women Summit – Theme: Good parenting and Empowerment;

5.    Produced calendar, beauty pageant, workshop on decoration and bead making.  Also there was raffle draw, displayed ISTDAL Women Dance and 4 communities received ten thousand Naira cash (₦10,000.00) each;

6.    2014 – 1^st Imo Women Day – Theme: Inspiring Women for change and Empowerment. Showcased  ISTDAL Women Kitchen tagged “Nneoma Kitchen”; empowered 3 women with 3 hair dryers and organized Cultural dance competition;

7.    2014 – 1^st Imo Women August Meeting in Lagos – Theme: Equipping Women for Challenges of Life; Her Excellency honoured the occasion with over 100 women from Imo State

8.    2015 – 2^nd Imo Women August Meeting in Lagos – Theme: Sustainable Empowerment of Women for Community Development;

9.    Over sixty (60) Communities went home with sewing machines, grinding machines and assorted gift items. 

Eziada-Ego Ijeaku donated sixty thousand Naira cash for Youth Scholarship while Lolo Ijeoma Okoro donated wrappers to the Indigent Women; which were handed over to the incoming President to find an appropriate time to distribute the items.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS DURING MY TENURE AS PRESIDENT

1.        Over 100 copies of the constitution review were givento all  ISTDAL Women free;

2.        Minutes of meetings were produced free of charge and distributed to all ISTDAL Women;

3.        Empowerment of over 200 indigent women from Town Union registered in ISTDAL;

4.        NO Town Union was levied throughout my tenure;

5.        Sourced funds through companies, corporate bodies etc. e.g. Globacom and individuals;

6.        Established good relationship with our men during Mazi Ohakwe tenures and the present President and men executives;

7.        Good relationship with Imo State Governor and their First Lady (Ohakim and Okorocha);

8.        Good relationship with Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike, Mkpume II;

9.        Good relationship with Senator  (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu;

10.    Friendship among our women;

11.    Welfare –visited the sick and bereaved;

12.    Attended social gatherings – weddings in and outside Lagos.  Attend other functions;

13.    Upgraded the ISTDAL Cooperative to Multipurpose society;

14.    Carried our women along during the political era;

15.    Assisted our women during their activities to achieve success;

16.    Discovered talents among our women and worked with them;

17.    Established ISTDAL Women Cultural dance;

18.    Introduced ISTDAL Queen;

19.    Introduced ISTDAL Women Kitchen tagged “NNEOMA KITCHEN”;

20.    Purchased dance instrument for the women.

21.    Assisted the needy, financially.

AWARDS

In six years, we conferred/gave awards to over thirty (30) personalities received awards and five Town Unions Women President in recognition of their achievements in their various communities and human endeavours, while a member received an award of “Most Diligent Woman” in ISTDAL during our tenure.

I enjoyed good working relationship with ISTDAL past Presidents and the present one thereby was privileged to have given award to the two Presidents of ISTDAL, Grand Patron Dr. Chief Sir Uzodinma Adirieje (Ahaejiejemba 1 of Amaruru) and Mazi Evangelist Tony Ohakwe.  They did a lot to uphold the ideals of ISTDAL and ensured discipline among our members. They maintained what ISTDAL stood for.

I worked very hard to fulfill our collective dreams by utilizing my time well, associating with good friends, and taking inspiration from quality people within and outside the Association, many of whom were truly extraordinary. They were my mentors and they pushed me really hard to excel, even giving me tasks that projected me to the higher level, from one Committee Chair to the other. I am happy that I discharged my duties well with a high sense of responsibility, integrity and accountability in keeping with my mission of mounting the leadership position that I am completing and passing on today. I have come to realize that the reward for hardwork is more work.

During the period under review the only source of internally generated fund was monthly dues which was ₦300.00 per town union monthly, only last year it was increased to ₦500.00. The total sum of Four hundred and twenty-two thousand three hundred and thirty eight Naira, (₦422,338.12) twelve kobo in the Savings Account and Twenty thousand Naira (₦20,000.00) in the Current Account realized from dues.  Details on other income and expenditure are available with/through the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer.

Let me at this point appeal to all of us dealing with this great Association, ISTDAL, to do everything necessary to assist in preserving the integrity of its vision and mission. By so doing, we shall be guarding the credibility of what ISTDAL represents.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, let me concede that the points I have so far emphasized do not comprise an exhaustive list of things that we did during our tenure in order to ensure our women continuously contribute positively in dealing with the challenges we had faced or may face in the future.  Qualities such as self-discipline, self-esteem, humility, the ability to cope and bounce back from failure or setbacks and many others must be written on the slate of a holistically prepared woman.

Finally before I recede to my seat, may I wish our successors God’s choicest blessings as you embark on your onerous duties.

Thank you very much.

Long Live ISTDAL

Long Live Imo State

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria

LADY BLESSING ANYADINDU MBONU (MKPURUMMA)

TWO-TERM PRESIDENT, 2010-2016

ISTDAL WOMEN WING