By Uzo Ugwunze
The newly inaugurated Community Women Leader of Alor Community, Lady Ifeoma Uzokwe, and other stakeholders have called on mothers to take child upbringing seriously by instilling moral values, discipline and godliness in their children.
The call was made during the 2026 Alor Women August Meeting in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the entire seven-member executive of Inyom Alor was unanimously reelected and inaugurated for a second three-year term.
The keynote speaker, former Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr. Nkiru Nwadinobi, urged Ndigbo to revive the traditional system of communal child training, while encouraging parents to teach their children the Igbo language and practical skills.
Nwadinobi recalled that, traditionally, children were raised collectively by extended family members, including co-wives, umu ada and umunna, who helped to instil discipline, respect for elders and good morals.
She urged mothers to allow their children to acquire useful skills during long vacations, rather than relying solely on holiday lessons.
“It seems we have failed as mothers. Igbos believe in hard work. Allow your children to learn a skill during long vacation,” she said, stressing the importance of preserving the Igbo language.
In her address, Uzokwe urged women to be more involved in the upbringing of their children and to become industrious enough to support their families.
“Our children do not go to church anymore. Child upbringing should be taken seriously. Our women should sit down and start retraining their children in the fear of the Lord and inculcate moral values in them,” she said.
Uzokwe attributed the renewal of her executive’s mandate to its spirit of unity, transparency and inclusiveness.
She listed some achievements of her administration to include the construction of 12 lock-up shops at the market to promote women’s economic empowerment, installation of nine gates and perimeter fencing at Nkwo Alor Market to improve security, and facilitation of interest-free soft loans for market women.
She also said the women had facilitated skills acquisition and empowerment programmes for members in partnership with non-governmental organisations and the local government.
According to her, the administration also places emphasis on spiritual empowerment, while encouraging women to patronise Alor Microfinance Bank, which has been upgraded for digital and interbank transactions.
She announced that the next major project of the women would be to provide a concrete floor at Nkwoka Alor Market to reduce the difficulties caused by muddy conditions during the rainy season.
Also speaking, the APGA candidate for Alor Ward II councillorship, Mrs Kosisochukwu Akubueze, described mothers as the “gatekeepers” of the family and urged them to guide their children against negative influences.
She warned that inadequate parental supervision could expose children to drug abuse, street touting and other social vices.
The reelected seven-member executive comprises Lady Ifeoma Uzokwe, President General; Mrs Lucy Uzoegbunam, Vice President; Mrs Chiamaka Igwebuike, General Secretary; Mrs Chinwe Okoyeobele, Assistant Secretary; Mrs Benedicta Nwoyegbuzue, Financial Secretary; Mrs Nkiru Oyeudo, Treasurer; and Mrs Esther Okonkwo, Publicity Secretary.
Those who witnessed the inauguration included the Mayor of Idemili South, Hon. Mrs Amaka Obi (Iyom Ifeabata); President of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Women Wing, Mrs Blessing Onuigwe; representatives of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare; Women Development and Social Welfare officers from Idemili South LGA; President General of Alor, High Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu Agbaigwe; and women from Alor, including representatives from Lagos and other branches abroad.
Tags: Alor Women, Anambra State, August Meeting, Child Upbringing, Inyom Alor
