Ndifreke Enefiok, Uyo.
In preparedness of its 100 days in office celebration, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ paid a courtesy call on H.R.H Eze (Dr.) CYC Umeakuka, JP – Ezendigbo Gburugburu, on Friday, 10th June, at his palace in Uyo.
During the courtesy call, the Akwa Ibom NAWOJ led by Comrade Nsikak Okon applauded the Igbo monarch for the warm reception given to women Journalists, noting that such traits shows his fatherly disposition.
Briefing Ezendigbo Gburugburu on the array of plans by the new Executive which came on board on 30th March and reason for the visit, the NAWOJ Chairperson disclosed that the association plans on embarking on boy child advocacy, education, training of members on how to report GBV and a thanksgiving service as part of its 100 days in office celebration.
Okon said the association have observed with dismay the monotonous pattern of parenting which gives better focus on the girl child over the boy thereby creating room for parental negligence and vulnerability of the boy child.
The NAWOJ Chairperson noted that the parental and societal negligence of the boy child have left them at the mercy of criminality and social rot, stressing that boy children top charts in all crime activities and vices.
She stressed that it was time for stakeholders, parents, guardians, caregivers and the entire society to raise the bar not only on boy child parenting but take the message of education of the boy child to all nooks and crannies.
She disclosed that NAWOJ as an association during the long week celebration will not only take the message of boy child education to caregivers at all levels but will help highlight the negative influences of neglecting the boy child.
In addition, she expressed the association’s readiness to partner with Ezendigbo Gburugburu and the Igbo community in Akwa Ibom State to give full coverage to all its events and and synergized working relationship.
In response, the Ezendigbo Gburugburu and President of Ezendigbo Diaspora and Nigeria, H.R.H Umeakuka expressed happiness with the association for the courteous move and respect done him as the monarch of all Igbos in the State.
Ezendigbo Gburugburu assures that himself, his council and entire Igbo community will give full support to the association as they look forward to positive reportage of their events.
The monarch appreciated the association for the amount of publicity enjoyed so far, he added that when the lingering crisis in the South East dies down and his inauguration sorted out, the association will be duly carried along.
