Imo East Senatorial Race; Unveiling the Woman Ada Owere
As the race for who will represent Owerri Zone in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly gears up, it is imperative to take a concise look at the profile of one of the front runners and unarguably the best of the lot, Chief (Mrs) Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the Ada Owere1, who has declared her intention to represent the great people of Imo East (Owerri) Senatorial zone at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
It is exigent for the electorates in Owerri zone to know who Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu (Ada Owere1) is, the ideals she represent, the experience and competence she possesses and, why she is qualified to be trusted with their mandate.
Imo East (Owerri ) Senatorial zone, comprises of nine local government areas of Aboh, Ezinihite, Ahiazu, Ngor Okpala, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Owerri North, Owerri West and Owerri Municipal LGAs. Having experienced years of neglect, deprivation and poor representation, especially at the federal level, the good and illustrious people of Owerri zone must get it right again this time around by electing a woman with proven track record of love for her people. A woman Who is compassionate, integrity-driven, versatile, committed, result oriented, has a good understanding of development-driven governance, a human rights advocate, a bridge builder and a digitally competent administrator. They must elect someone with sincerity of purpose, who possesses the capacity and capability to demand what is due for her people and what they need, who knows how to go about actualising these things and will never relent, be distracted, deterred nor stop until the goals are met. These qualities and more are what Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu brings to the table.
Born on July 20, 1953 to the family of Chief B.U.B (late) and Nneoma Dora Anyanwu (late) in Emeabiam, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. She graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a B.Sc in Zoology in 1977. She obtained her M.Sc Fisheries ( major in Aquaculture) from the University of Philippines, Iloilo, and another Masters in Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion and Education from the prestigious University of Ibadan. She is currently pursuing a PhD, (major in Renewable Energy Application in Aquaculture) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. She is a family woman to the core, married to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), blessed with four wonderful children who are all doing exceptionally well and grandchildren.
1n 2021, Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu was honoured with the title of Ada Owere1 by about 45 communities of Owerri dialectic block for her outstanding contributions to human development and capacity building in the zone. Ada Owere is the apex title for women in Owerri clan and she is the first to be so honoured. Few years earlier, she was conferred with the title of Ada Emeabiam II by Emeabiam Autonomous Community (her home town) for her immense contributions to the growth and development of the community. In 2020, Umudara Autonomous Community in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state conferred on her the tittle of Nneora of Igbo land. Recently, the people of Ihiagwa conferred on her the tittle of ‘Nwanyi wu ihe’. Few months after, Ogbor/Umuachalu Autonomous Community also in Imo state honoured her with the title of Ada di oha nma. Each of these titles is a testimony of her impact to the people.
The Ada Owere1 is a woman of many parts and endeavours. Highly compassionate and dedicated, she daily thinks of how to better the lot of her people. Her rare and exceptional humanitarian disposition and concern for family and societal development, has propelled her to dedicate herself in service to others through her Foundation, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF). Through this initiative, she continues to touch lives and impact the society. She harbours huge passion for advancing and promoting literacy in children through programmes such as Reading is fun, Essay and Spelling bee competitions. She is committed to the advancement of the social and economic status of women while nurturing and heavily investing in young girls in the area of ICT and Solar Energy technology with the goal to bridge gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is also developing talents in arts and sports, and promoting improved sanitization in schools and communities, including qualitative education for the deaf. Her BEMORE project for girls epitomizes this vision.
Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu is a visionary leader with a knack for projecting into the future, identifying present and future needs and taking the bull by the horn to proffer lasting and sustainable solutions. Driven by the passion to emplace positive and lasting change in a society wallowing in the myths and misconceptions fabricated about breast cancer, she, after surviving the ailment, founded the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, in 1997, as a front-line NGO that galvanizes action against breast cancer in Nigeria through Public Education, Patients Support, Advocacy and Research.
One of the many things that makes Betty stand apart from the rest is her doggedness to fight for any just cause she believes in. She never gives up. When no one wanted to talk about breast cancer, she stood as a lone voice, not minding the stigma and rejections she faced. Undaunted, she braced on. Today, people no longer talk about breast cancer in hushed tones and, more lives are been saved as a consequence. This earned her an award by the prestigious Harvard University, USA in recognition of her outstanding contribution to cancer awareness and advocacy (2018). The Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON) has also recognized her for her contribution to the field of Oncology, among several other awards
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu is a thorough professional who understands due process, collaboration, networking, building relationships, lobbying and the power of legislation. This is evidenced in her successful push for the Ondo state house of assembly to pass the Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) bill into law. Prior to that, in order to prevent cancer deaths in the state, she, through her NGO, BRECAN advocated for a budget line for cancer prevention in the state, thereby making Ondo one of the very few states in Nigeria to give such considerations to the prevention, treatment and management of cancer.
As the wife of a sitting Governor of two terms, Betty comes from a vantage of knowledge and exposure. Her positive involvement in the governance of her husband’s state (Ondo) is an experience that can never be overemphasized but instead should be harnessed. As a grass-root politician, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has been rightfully described as the first Lady with a huge difference. She has seized the office, though a conventional one, to contribute to positive change in the state. For her immense contributions to the successes of her husband’s administration, she was honoured as the Most Supportive First Lady in Nigeria (2020) by The Sun Publishing Limited. The Nigerian Assembly News also recognised her as the Most Valuable Governor’s Wife (2021). She also received the award as the Best First Lady Women’s Right Defender during the Nigeria Women Digital Agenda Summit Awards. (2019)
Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu is resourceful and an administrator per excellence. She successfully runs Aquatek Farms Ventures a commercial fish farm that also provides consultancy services. It is worthy of note that despite her very busy schedule, she dutifully and efficiently runs her massive fish farm projects, taking her time to handle the fish breeding processes and even provides online free tutorial classes on aquaculture. She nurtured her career as a fisheries expert while working with the Federal Department of Fisheries where she retired voluntarily after 28 years of diligent service.
Ada Owere 1 is a front line human rights activist, always projecting for and championing the rights of the less privileged. She an unrepentant advocate for women and youths empowerment. In Ondo state for instance, she is at the fore front of the fight against gender based violence. Cases of rape and violence against women and girls are no longer swept under the carpet. Victims are sure that once Mrs Akeredolu is aware, justice must be served and swiftly too. This is not only in Ondo state where she is the First Lady, but even back home in Imo state, she has taken up such cases and made sure that the offenders were brought to book and their victims get the justice they deserve. Recently, she participated actively in the protest by Nigerian women in Abuja over the non passage of the gender bill into law by the National Assembly. Her voice clearly echoed through.
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu cares for everyone. Her widows care initiative which began in 2020 was to cater for that section of the society who are often forgotten and maligned in the scheme of things. She created a dedicated website for the widows that is been used to capture comprehensive data of all widows in the state. As a lover of her people and, in the spirit of aku ruo ulo, she ensured that the widows care initiative was taken home where more than five hundred of widows in Owerri zone benefited from it. Every of her activities is aimed to achieve long lasting effects with far reaching multiplying effects, designed to better the lot of the people. In recognitions of this, the Nigerian Tribune’s during their 70th anniversary in 2019 bestowed on her the Platinum Award as The Champion of Humanity.
It is important to note that contrary to what people may think, Betty Anyanwu-Akerdolu’s foray into politic pre-dates her time as the First Lady of Ondo state. She has been politically active since 2007 and has always wanted to represent her people. She is constantly in touch and knows exactly what the yearning of the people are. It was through her advocacy using the right channels that she was able to attract the NDDC’s intervention to begin the construction of 10.5 km road with drainage that connects Emeabiam and Eziobodo people to Ihiagwa. The affected communities had hitherto suffered greatly due to lack of access roads. Today relief is in the air.
Adducing from the above, It is therefore evident that in Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu, Owerri zone will have a true representation from one who already understands the importance of making legislations that will better the life of the people of her constituency. She will not be a “Yes” member of the house. Her voice will be heard and it will be a harbinger of positive change and hope for the people.
The title of Ada Owere would never have been bestowed on just anyone. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is indeed a true daughter of the soil and an unrepentant lover of her people and has never been far from them. It is impressive that despite being married to a man from another tribe and faraway state, she visits home regularly, and has hardly spent any Christmas period away from her village (Emeabiam) in her over 40 years of marriage. She is deeply involved in the development, welfare and politics of her people. This, she has showcased through the following; Founding of Nosike Multi-purpose Cooperative Society created for empowering young entrepreneurs who are into small and medium enterprises particularly in the rural areas. Initiating the Olu-Mbato Social-Political Group whose aim is to champion the development of the member communities, Convening the Igolo-Abiam Youths Grass root Movement which is an avenue for mentoring young people, conceiving and convening the Emeabiam Town Hall meeting to foster productive engagements and deliberations that will move the zone forward, engender unity of purpose and progressive mindset.she is also the Convener of Concerned Citizen Forum, a forum specially created to engage the government and ensure that the people of the zone are not marginalized in developmental projects. Worthy of commendation is the fact that she has ensured the replication of projects that she carries out in Ondo state where is she is the First Lady back home.
Another wonderful quality she possesses is her understanding of real Governance. “Governance is not rocket science” she would always say during political discussions. Betty believes that to lead a people should not be an impossible task as long as you are open minded, have the love of your people at heart, trusts them and is ready to work with and for them. She agrees that modern day tools are meant to solve modern day problems. This is exactly why she believes so much in leveraging on technology and ICT in governance. She is digitally sound and would never embark on any venture without data and evidence-based decision making. This is a modern and progressive mindset, a mindset that brings good governance to the people.
Mrs Akeredolu understands what it means to run an all inclusive government. She championed the non-indigene coalition in Ondo state. Through this platform, a voice and recognition was given to the non-indigenes in the state especially the minority groups. Here is a testimony, an assurance of one who will ensure that all members of her constituency are well represented and given a voice. Every community can rest assured that their interest will be fully taken into cognizance if Ada Owere is given the mandate.
There is no gain saying in the fact that Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu’s reputation stands tall and untainted. She is well equipped, educated, vast, experienced and ready for the the journey ahead. With her, the people of owerri zone can rest assured that they would get quality representation as never before. She will be an unequivocal voice, echoing the concerns of her people. She will ensure that Owerri zone welcomes an era of meaningful discussions, engaging and productive town hall meetings and constituency projects. She will be accountable to the people and her score card will be open for regular constituents evaluations. Ada Owere will engineer social change, community participation, engender equal rights and opportunities and bring lasting and sustainable development that will make Owerri zone a point of positive reference.
The people of Owere Zone deserve better. Ada Owere is better and will deliver better than anyone else. She is approachable, open-minded, deeply appreciates and welcomes creative ideas especially when they are innovative, technology driven and people oriented. We present an exceptional woman who is fearlessly changing the narrative in leadership and drawing up a blueprint that will be a template and a reference point for others. She promises to fix Owerri zone and, she is more than able to make this happen.
Rowland Onyeukwu
Director Media and Publicity
Ada Owere Campaign Organization
