By Chinedum Treasure
Wife of Anambra state governor, Dr. (Mrs) Nonye Soludo has expressed concerns over plight and position of women and girls in the society despite innumerable discussions on how to improve their lots.
She regretted that amidst studies, consultations, seminars, workshops, protests and demonstrations, open letters, and pleas women had toed the path of partisanship.
Soludo who raised the concerns in her speech to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration, however proposed review of strategies and visions.
According to her, for there to be change of narrative, every woman must be part of the crusade, including being intentional about building the right place for women and girls to thrive in.
She said, “However, the lead must start from those whose destiny is the subject of the conversation. The time of staying on the sideline is over. Women must now be in the centre and front of it all.
“Now, the big question is: How do we get fully involved? The number of women who have ventured into politics is still significantly poor. This has to change. We can not make a difference if all we have is aversion for the system.
“It is time to get involved in the process and be at the table where key decisions about our destiny are made. It is time to lead in the front. The outsider mindset can only take us as far as the voice can travel. Being an active part of the process, however, guarantees real-time impact.
“I, therefore, call on every woman who has a passion for politics to take a bold step towards being a changemaker. We will rally behind you.
While commending Nigerian First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi for her recent proposal on legislation for a mandatory number of seats for women in the National Assembly, Soludo said State Houses of Assembly should be included.
“This is a commendable model for fair representation for minority voices, and, more importantly, a great opportunity for the elected women to be a trusted voice for millions of other women who are looking out for something ambitious.
“I’m equally appealing that if this legislation is considered, State Houses of Assembly shouldn’t be left out. Because if we want to make a tangible difference, then we should be bold and courageous enough in the pursuit of it.
Describing the theme for the occasion — “Empower Her, Elevate All” as brilliant, the governor’s wife stressed that the theme should not be another use-and-dispose materials for occasional highlights.
“Having the right conversations is about asking questions, however difficult. It’s about taking action and providing solutions. It’s about giving women and girls a fair opportunity to grow, succeed, and lead without stereotypes and marginalization.
“It’s about protecting them from harassment and abuses, sexual exploitation and social injustices, workplace discrimination, and cultural debasement. It’s about understanding that when one woman is rightly empowered, a generation has been empowered.
“We need to take this conversation beyond mere advocacies. It’s really time to be more practical.
“Over time, women, when entrusted with important responsibilities, have proven to be great managers. The Solution Administration sees from this important vantage point.
“Today, we have more women occupying key positions in government than we’ve ever had, and each of them are living proof of excellence and professionalism. The administration’s plans for Anambra women and girls are anchored strongly on inclusion and foresight.
“The truly-free education from primary to secondary schools, free antenatal care and delivery services, free cervical cancer screening and treatment exercises that captured over 10,000 women, establishment of a designated magistrate court to tackle gender violence cases, recruitment of over 8,000 teachers, with a greater percentage of women, and instituting competitive platforms for women to grow in the state civil service.
“All these and more are clear pointers to what the administration of Professor Chukwuma Soludo represents for women and girls.
“It is important for every woman to understand that being a woman goes beyond mere gender affirmation. Being a woman means that you’ve been blessed with exceptional intelligence, enormous energy, and immeasurable grace. It means that you have a big stake in fighting for the betterment of your gender and society.
“Part of what we are doing with my NGO, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, is to mould women into practical changemakers. By teaching women to prioritize their health and live a life that puts healthy choices before anything else, we have built an army of die-hard believers who see Healthy Living as the primary enabler of societal development.
“Today, hundreds of women are leading our routine workouts and community programmes, building healthy bridges across all corners of Anambra State, and hoisting a flag of gender success. These women understand, first hand, what it takes to make that lasting impact.
“It is the same impact that we are witnessing today, with the empowerment of 25 women, who I expect to take the best advantage of this modest opportunity before them and build a life of their own.
“It is my earnest wish that we can create a sustainable avenue to bring every Anambra woman to this roundtable. Because if we want our voice to be heard, then we must walk as a pack in vision and foresight,” she added.
