Mazi Gburugburu:From August meetings to cultural festivals : Amadi deepens grassroots engagements

FROM AUGUST MEETINGS TO CULTURAL FESTIVALS: AMADI DEEPENS GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT

By Cajetan Duke

In continuation of his engagements with communities across Owerri Zone, yesterday Saturday, August 15th, 2026, the senatorial candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi, PhD, moved from August Meetings to cultural festivals, interacting with the people and renewing his call for greater attention to women’s empowerment and community development.

At Umuorii Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area, Amadi joined women from the various autonomous communities in Uratta under the umbrella of the Uratta Development Union (UDU) Women’s Wing for the second anniversary celebration of the union and its 2026 August Meeting.

The colourful ceremony, sponsored by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, makers of Peak, Three Crowns, Nunu and Olympic milk brands in Nigeria, attracted women leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, including the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Chief Mrs Chioma Uzodimma, who was represented at the event by the wife of the Managing Director of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority.

Speaking at the occasion, Amadi commended the UDU women for sustaining the union and praised FrieslandCampina WAMCO for identifying with them, describing investment in women as one of the most effective ways corporate organisations can contribute to the development of communities.

According to the University of Ibadan-trained human nutritionist, the benefits of empowering a woman hardly end with the individual, as women have over the years demonstrated their ability to translate even modest opportunities into better living conditions for their families. He therefore urged other corporate organisations to emulate FrieslandCampina WAMCO by deliberately supporting programmes that can improve the economic capacity of women in their host communities.

Amadi also called on governments and elected representatives to take greater advantage of the annual August Meeting as an existing platform for driving women’s empowerment and community development. He noted that for decades, women have consistently used the August Meeting to mobilise themselves and raise resources for projects in their respective communities.

“For decades, our women have organised themselves, raised money and executed projects without waiting for anybody. Imagine what more they can achieve if government deliberately supports them with access to capital, cooperatives, skills and economic opportunities. We must begin to see August Meeting differently. It should also become a platform for building the economic resilience of our women and fighting poverty from the grassroots,” he said.

Amadi, who described women as not only pillars of the family but also wealth multipliers, said any serious attempt at reducing poverty must pay particular attention to their economic condition. He reassured the women of his continued partnership and announced a donation of ₦10 million in support of their development efforts.

From Umuorii Uratta, Amadi proceeded to Oke Uvuru Secondary School in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, where he joined sons, daughters and friends of Mbaise Nation for the 2026 Iri Ji Mbaise, the annual New Yam Festival.

Amadi, who expressed delight at joining the celebration, commended Mbaise Nation for sustaining the age-long tradition and preserving it for younger generations. He noted that the significance of Iri Ji goes beyond the celebration of the new yam, reflecting the importance of agriculture, hard work, thanksgiving and communal values in the life of the people.

From the Iri Ji Mbaise celebration, Amadi proceeded through the deteriorating road network to Umunama in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, where he honoured the invitation of the Oganihu Ndom Umunama Welfare Association to their ongoing August Meeting.

One of the high points of the occasion was the lighting of a symbolic candle by Amadi at the request of the women to signify the beginning of what they described as a new dawn. Amadi said the light should represent renewed hope for women, young people and families struggling with the prevailing economic realities.

“This light represents hope. It represents the beginning of a new phase for our people — a phase where the poor will no longer be forgotten, where our women will have opportunities to prosper and where our young people can look towards tomorrow with confidence. The time for the poor has come,” he told the gathering.

He maintained that the challenge of poverty could not be addressed through sympathy or occasional handouts alone, but through deliberate programmes that give people opportunities to become economically productive and self-reliant. Amadi assured the Umunama women of his willingness to partner with them in their community development initiatives and announced a donation of ₦2 million towards their ongoing project.

Amadi later proceeded to Egbu Ancient Kingdom in Owerri North Local Government Area, where he joined the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole, Ochurunma VI, and the people of Egbu for their annual Mbum Uzo Cultural Festival.

Speaking at the event, Amadi recalled his longstanding relationship with the people of Egbu and commended the community for sustaining its cultural heritage. He assured the traditional ruler and the people of his continued solidarity with their development aspirations and announced a donation of ₦7 million in support of community development.

For Amadi, the engagements with women and communities also reflected the reasons he has given for seeking to represent Owerri Zone in the Senate. He maintained that representation should not be about occupying a seat or acquiring another political title, but about having a bigger platform to speak for the people, support community development and expand economic opportunities for women, young people and struggling families. His aspiration, he said, remains anchored on making life better for ordinary people, insisting that public office can only have meaning when the people can feel its impact in their everyday lives.

Mazi Ggburugburu was accompanied by a team of APP leaders and members of his campaign organisation, among whom were Chief Henry Onwukwe, Director-General; Rt. Hon. Ichie Ken Agbim; Chief Abba Chimaroke; Rt. Hon. Michael Crown Njoku; Chief Martins Ohanele; Prof. Uche Nwosu; Engr. Emeka Onwukwe; Sir Brint Akomas; and Hon. Calistus Onwuegbucha. Others included Hon. Okey Nkwocha, Prof. Whyte Iheagwam, Hon. Mrs Nneka Chukwu, Mrs Chinasa Ogu, Hon. Val Ahaneku, Engr. Emeka Alaribe and Comrade Bright Emeghara, among others.

Duke is the Chief Press Secretary to Dr Chima Matthew Amadi (Mazi G gburugburu) and writes from Eziala Nguru.

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