Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano yesterday received investiture as state patron and member of Nigerian Girl Guides Association at a brief ceremony in Awka, the state capital.

Speaking after the installation held at the Government House, the state Commissioner of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, Mrs. Uche Orakwute told the wife of the governor that she was found worthy for the investiture because of her dedication to the service of the people and for coming to introduce herself at a meeting of the association last year without protocols.

She described Mrs Obiano as “a woman of open heart, a lover of children, a mother general and a lady Olave Baden Powell of our time.”

Mrs. Orakwute who also administered the oath of honour to the wife of the governor, said that the Nigerian Girl Guides Association came into Nigeria in 1919 as a character training organisation based on its motto promise and law, as well as dynamic programmes for the achievement of girls and women.

She explained that the association is voluntary; and open to all girls and young women without distinction on basis of religion, status, tribe or any other circumstance.

Accepting the honour, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano revealed that she had always identified with the Girl Guide Association.

“I always wished to be a member but never fulfilled the dream. But my daughter is an active member and has attended several camping programmes. In fact, she once stayed with a host family in United Kingdom for two weeks on a Girls’ Guides programme. Your organisation is a noble one and we will in our own way, help to spread the news to ensure that our young girls join, so that you can have membership across all the Local Government Areas,” he said.

Mrs. Obiano thanked the executives of Nigerian Girl Guides, assuring them of her assistance but also informed them that the Office of the wife of the governor is not statutory and has no budget for operations.

She explained that she is engaged in the activities and programmes of her NGO and pet project, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), through which she intervenes with donations to empower the less privileged members of the society like indigent widows who are trained to be meaningfully engaged after skills acquisition training, as well as provide succor for the physically challenged amongst others.

According to Mrs Obiano, “It may interest you to know that this is the way I support my husband to improve the fortunes of some members of our society. Just the way he is committed at issues of governance, I try to contribute my quota through CAFÉ because that is what we are used to.

We are committed to touching lives positively because leaving our children thousands of miles away to serve at home will amount to nothing. That is why we continue to work hard to spread dividends of democracy in every way we can.”

•Photo shows wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, with members of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association at the Investiture and Enrollment of Mrs. Obiano as State Patron today in Awka, Anambra State.

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