The wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has urged women of Ndokwa Nation to leverage education, unity, confidence and economic empowerment to overcome socio-cultural barriers and contribute meaningfully to the development of their families, communities and the state.
The First Lady gave the charge in a goodwill message delivered on her behalf by the Wife of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme, at the Ndokwa Women’s Conference 2026, held at the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) House, Kwale, Delta State.
The conference, organised by the NNU Women Wing under the leadership of the National Women Leader, Barrister Mrs Cynthia Oputa-Governor, had as its theme, “Womanhood in a Socio-Cultural Context: The Ndokwa Reality.”
Represented at the event as Guest of Honour, Ezinne Onyeme said the gathering provided an opportunity for Ndokwa women to reflect on the values that had shaped their society, while considering the realities and opportunities confronting women in the modern world.
According to the First Lady, the Ndokwa region remained blessed with women of “profound capacity, beauty, intellect and purpose,” stressing that women remained critical custodians of the values and cultural identity of the Ndokwa people.
She, however, called for the evolution of socio-cultural practices to create greater opportunities for women to thrive.
“When we invest in women and when we empower a girl-child with education and confidence, we empower an entire family, a community, and, ultimately, the entire generation,” she said.
She urged parents and community leaders to encourage girls to study, think critically and aspire beyond limitations imposed by society.
The First Lady said women should be constantly reminded that their dreams remain valid, their voices matter and their futures, bright.
She also acknowledged the economic and social pressures confronting women, particularly the challenge of balancing family responsibilities with personal aspirations.
She said her pet project, You Matter Charity Foundation, remained committed to supporting vulnerable people and empowering women, while commending the NNU Women Wing for its contributions to the foundation’s food-bank initiative.
Oborevwori encouraged Ndokwa women to mentor younger women, support the less privileged and celebrate one another rather than compete against themselves.
“There is immense strength in unity, and when we walk with a common purpose, we can drive transformative progress across the Ndokwa nation and Delta State,” she said.
She assured the women that the administration of her husband, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, remained committed to inclusive growth, economic empowerment, healthcare, security and human capital development across Delta State.
The First Lady congratulated the organisers of the conference, and expressed confidence that the ideas generated would translate into practical steps towards a society where women could live with dignity and attain fulfilment.
In his address, the President-General of the Ndokwa Neku Union, Chief Amechi Asugwuni, urged Ndokwa women to embrace their uniqueness, uphold their values and remain confident in their contributions to society.
Asugwuni said women occupied “unique and irreplaceable positions” in the family and society, and urged them to remain strong and consistent in their positive actions.
“A woman is unique in nature and in culture. Woman brings genuine flavours to the world,” he said.
The NNU President-General advised women to allow their roles to be guided by kindness, diligence, integrity, honesty and respect.
He cautioned women against allowing anyone to make them feel inferior, stressing that their strength lies in their numbers.
