Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Dr. Eunice Ortom Women’s Movement has officially flagged off its activities, bringing together women from the seven local government areas of Benue North-West Senatorial District in a coordinated initiative aimed at strengthening women’s participation in leadership and public affairs.
Led by Dr. Indira Aernyi, the movement’s flag-off ceremony was marked by a call for unity, collective responsibility and a renewed commitment to ensuring that women have a stronger voice in shaping the future of their communities.
Addressing participants, Dr. Aernyi described the movement as a demonstration of unity and a declaration of purpose, noting that the time had come for women to speak with one voice in support of a common vision.
She portrayed Dr. Eunice Ortom as a source of inspiration capable of illuminating the paths of other women who are striving to discover their potential and find opportunities to make meaningful contributions to society.
Women drawn from seven local governments of the district participated in the exercise, alongside local government coordinators who are expected to lead grassroots mobilisation and expand the movement’s reach across Zone B. The initiative seeks to establish a coordinated platform through which women can contribute to conversations about purposeful representation and the development of the district.
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Margaret Oluwole,Hon. Mrs Ingyape Comfort, Dr. Msuur Shior, Mrs Rosemary Akpe, Miss Jennifer Ornguga and Mrs Gesa Evelyn expressed their readiness to work towards the actualisation of Dr. Eunice Ortom’s senatorial ambition.
They described her aspiration as an opportunity to advance the interests of ordinary citizens and called on people of goodwill to identify with a vision they said was driven by the hope of improving living conditions across the district.
In her remarks, Dr. Eunice Ortom described women as symbols of peace, hope and love, while commending Dr. Aernyi and the women for taking the initiative to unite around a shared purpose.
She said the movement had made a statement about women’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to societal growth, stressing that her candidacy offered an opportunity to bring more women to the decision-making table.
According to her, the significance of the initiative extends beyond her personal political ambition, as it represents an opportunity to create pathways for women and the girl-child to be heard, recognised and given meaningful opportunities in leadership.
Dr. Eunice Ortom emphasised that the quest for greater female participation was not about opposing men or diminishing their roles but about ensuring that women were equally recognised and given the opportunity to contribute their perspectives to decisions affecting the general well-being of the people.
She described the movement’s guiding message as “One Voice to Rise Together,” explaining that her aspiration was to serve as a door opener for those whose contributions had remained underrepresented in public life.
The senatorial candidate further highlighted the importance of quality education for every child, noting that every child deserved an opportunity to learn, develop their abilities and pursue aspirations without having their voices suppressed.
She also drew attention to the plight of farming communities, expressing concern that many hardworking farmers who labour to feed their families and contribute to food production continue to face insecurity and violence. She stressed the need for their concerns to receive attention in decisions affecting the welfare and security of the people.
Dr. Eunice Ortom urged the women to recognise the opportunity before them and work collectively towards a future in which their voices, experiences and contributions would count in the affairs of society.
Expressing gratitude for the support she received from women across Zone B, she reaffirmed her commitment to creating opportunities for women,youths and elderly to find their voices and participate meaningfully in community development and leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the Dr. Eunice Ortom Campaign Organization, the Secretary, Dr. Mark Achaku, urged women across Zone B to seize the opportunity to support a woman whose record of service, he said, reflects compassion and concern for the downtrodden. He encouraged them to remain focused on Dr. Eunice Ortom’s senatorial aspiration, describing it as an opportunity to advance women’s inclusion in decision-making.
Dr. Achaku cautioned that allowing the opportunity to slip away would mean not only a setback for Dr. Ortom’s aspiration but also a missed opportunity for children and other vulnerable groups whose voices are often underrepresented. He called on the women to remain united and sustain their grassroots mobilisation, while thanking them for their commitment to the movement.