One time Presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), who later resigned from active politics, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, has cried out that insecurity, which caused the sit-at-home in the Southeast made the region to lose 7.6 trillion naira in four years.

The renowned Financial expert and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) described the situation as a major challenge in Igbo land.

He spoke as a keynote speaker on Tuesday at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Secretariat in Awka, during the Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo Foundation (NNII) 2026 Conference, themed: “Empowered Women, Prosperous Southeast.”

Moghalu said that if the people of the Southeast want the region to regain its pride of place, the insecurity must stop, adding that with insecurity nothing moves anywhere.

He charged the Igbo women to make it their first priority, saying they had a lot of work to do if they were talking about taking the lead.

“We must take the development of Igbo by ourselves.We must set up our own vehicle of development,we should not sit back and wait for anyone to come and rescue us. We must take our destiny into our own hands” Moghalu said

He stated that the region had all it takes to tower above every region in the country with the entrepreneurial skills of Igbo person, while reeling out four major problems confronting the zone: insecurity, infrastructure deficit, capital and institutions and capacity.

In her address, the President General of the group and former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, said the aim of what they are doing is harnessing the strength, Enterprise, and Leadership of Igbo Women for Regional Transformation

“What we are doing is not only for women alone. The inspiration came during the COVID days. It is to encourage women to have confidence in who they are and participate in the country’s conversations.

“What we are trying to do is to change the narrative of women not speaking at home, and we decided to make it a group thing because you can’t shut up a group.

“The idea came up in 2021. The first conversation we had in Enugu was on insecurity in the region. I wanted to bring Igbo women together irrespective of political affiliations, religious denomination, professional background or social status to discuss issues of common concern, agree on positions and make our voices heard as a group. That was the TT thinking behind Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo “

“I was not asking Igbo society to give women a place they had never occupied. I was asking that we reclaim the voice and recognition that women once enjoyed in the governance of our communities. That was my founding vision; it remains the guiding philosophy of Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo Foundation.” Anenih said

Another Speaker, Mrs Uju Ifejika, the Chief Executive Officer of Brittania and chairman of the Conference, urged the women to rise to their responsibilities and not allow any form of intimidation from the men-folk.

But she did not tell them to disrespect their husbands, but to insist on the right things being done at all times and by standing up for their rights.

She jokingly said, “When men are seated,as a woman, if you arrive, don’t allow any man to stand up for you, shift him on that seat and take over. That is how you get to top levels and not the other way round. Getting to the top requires had work, loyalty and dedication” Ifejika said

Former First Lady of Imo state, Nneoma Rochas Okorocha, was physically present. The Anambra First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo was represented by lady Chinyere Onyekesi, Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, while the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake.

Also, the Abia state First Lady, Mrs Priscilla Otti, was represented by Prof Ijeoma Iheukwumere among other top dignitaries. (The Nation)