Izu Anioma Inaugurates FCT Youth, Women Fora

President of Izu Anioma, Abuja Chapter, Barr. Luke Enelichi, has urged Anioma youths and women to champion unity, leadership and community development following the inauguration of the Izu Anioma FCT Youth Forum and Women Forum.

At the ceremony in Abuja yesterday, its president described Izu Anioma as the umbrella socio-cultural body for all sons and daughters of Anioma, the Igbo-speaking people of Delta State.

He said the inauguration of the two fora was aimed at strengthening the organisation’s commitment to empowering women and preparing young people for leadership while preserving the values handed down by their forebears.

According to him, women remain a vital force in fostering unity, raising families and building strong communities, while the youth represent the future of the Anioma nation.

“We are sending our women and youths out to project the values that Anioma is known for. The future belongs to the youth, and they should not be discouraged from taking up leadership responsibilities and facing challenges,” he said.

He assured the newly inaugurated executives of the organization’s support, urging them to remain united wherever they find themselves and to avoid communal divisions.

“Our message is simple: support one another, encourage one another and never allow differences among communities or towns to divide us. We are one people, and our unity must always come first,” he stated.

The chapter president also lamented what he described as the growing erosion of values among leaders, saying many young people merely reflect the examples set by older generations.

He stressed that society must deliberately reorient young people by demonstrating integrity, dignity and selfless leadership rather than celebrating wealth alone.

Also speaking, the newly inaugurated Youth Leader of Izu Anioma, Mr. Emmanuel Ozegbe, pledged to mobilise young people towards responsible leadership, civic participation and community development.

Ozegbe said one of the forum’s immediate priorities would be educating communities ahead of the 2027 general elections on the importance of electing credible and compassionate leaders.

“Our responsibility is not to tell people who to vote for but to educate them on the qualities of credible leaders—leaders with capacity, vision and compassion for the people. Electing the right leaders will help address insecurity and other challenges confronting the country,” he said.

He added that the forum would focus on reorienting Anioma youths about their cultural values while promoting education, empowerment and peaceful coexistence.

“We are known for peace, love and prosperity, and we intend to re-educate our people about these values. Our inauguration is a call to serve humanity and build a better future for the next generation,” Ozegbe added.

The newly inaugurated Women Leader, Mrs. Okeze Esther, said the establishment of the Women Forum was designed to provide a structured and transparent platform for advancing the interests of Anioma women and ensuring that resources meant for community development are properly managed.

She noted that the forum would also serve as the legitimate channel for individuals and organisations seeking to support Anioma people both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

Esther expressed concern over unemployment and the lack of economic opportunities in Delta State despite its abundant natural resources, describing the situation as troubling.

She said the forum would work with relevant stakeholders and the Delta State Government to promote women’s empowerment, improve access to healthcare and create employment opportunities for graduates.

“My passion is to be part of those who will make a difference. We want to support government efforts by advocating programmes that will empower women, improve healthcare and create jobs for our graduates,” she said.

The inauguration marked a new chapter for the Abuja branch of Izu Anioma as it seeks to strengthen community engagement, promote cultural identity and empower women and youths to contribute meaningfully to the development of Anioma and Nigeria.