Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Ezema Women of Mgbagbu-owa community in Ezeagu Council Area of Enugu State, have launched a N20 million appeal fund to complete its women Hall project.
The hall when completed it is expected would help the community in hosting different activities and serve as Human Capital Development centre for the women and youths of the area.
Speaking during the launch, the Chair Lady of Ezema Women, Lolo Gloria Elobuike, said the gigantic hall project the women of community started over forty years could not be completed due to the money involved.
She said the hall was the first ever Women hall to be initiated in the whole of Mgbagbu-owa, adding most of the pioneer women that initiated the project had died while those of them alive yearned to see the hall completed in their lifetime.
Worried by the development, she said the women executives were determined to ensure that the hall was not only completed in the shortest period of time but put to use for the overall development of the people.
According to her, it is against this backdrop that the women invited their distinguished sons, daughters and friends of the community to donate N20 million for the completion of the hall.
“Today marks another milestone in the annals of our history towards the development of our community and with the determination of our people, it will bring an end to an over forty years journey of Ezema Women towards the possession of a functional town hall.
“The hall when completed will serve a pride of place for our people in terms of vocational, social and cultural integration of our population.
“It will open a new chapter in our community development and places us on equal footing with our neighbouring communities that are already enjoying the benefits of similar facilities,” Elobuike said.
She added the women wanted to use the occasion to assure the people that the completion of the hall and the immediate use of it would bring smiles on their faces and improve the economic and the social narratives of Ezema people.
The chair lady further said the hall would be a game changer that would bring an innovation in their way of life, stressing their administration came into office when the hall had been roofed and fence completed.
“Within the one and a half year of the tenure of our office, we are able to complete the plastering of both the inside and the outside parts of the building and piping work of the electrical requirements of the building.
“Beside these areas, there are still other crucial areas that require the attention of our people. These outstanding areas of work constitute the reason for today’s launching ceremony.
We need metal doors, windows and their protectors, entrance gate, ceiling, tiles, ceiling fans, seats, tables, painting of the building and provision of solar panel.
“It will provide convenience for the hosting of other social events like wedding, birthday, Ofala ceremonies and such other social gatherings,” she said.
Speaking also, the Coordinator of the event, Mrs Rose Ohaeche, added the fund raising became necessary as the women were exhausted financially and needed assistance from their husbands, sons, daughters and friends.
“We are calling on them to assist us in completing the building as the women have actually tried.
“This project started as far back as early 80s when our chair lady was still a small girl. She didn’t know that she will grow up, marry and still be the chair lady to continue building this project.
We are looking at 20 million but looking at the cost of things, the amount cannot really do what we wanted to do but we are hoping that our guest will raise more than that amount,” she said.
