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As part of activities marking the ongoing 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA 81 holding in the United States of America, several distinguished women with outstanding records of achievements were celebrated in the second Edition of EMPTISTORY OF ESTEEMED WOMEN, unveiled at the UNGA 81st side event of first ladies becoming High level forum.
The second edition of EMPTISTORY OF ESTEEMED WOMEN edited by Prof Adaeze JUNi Menakaya and Dr Prescila Juwah recognised the late Hon Mrs Theresa Uduego Nworah, a towering figure in the history of Omabala region comprising six council areas of Anambra State, Nigeria.
She was a pioneering Nigerian political leader, educator and advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the omabala area.
She rose to prominence in the mid 1980s by overcoming gender and social barriers to become the first elected female Councillor in the entire Omabala area, representing umunya at otuocha headquarters of the council area.
She ran as an independent candidate in a non party election defeating all her male opponents, at a time when women’s participation in politics was extremely limited which earned her the name iron lady.
Her legacy spans multiple spheres, courageous activist, a dynamic entrepreneur, a dedicated teacher and a mentor to countless people.
Nworah’s advocacy went beyond rhetoric, translating into practical community based programmes that transformed the lives of rural women.
While unveiling the compendium with the image of Nworah on the front page, one of the editors of the book, Menakaya, the Deputy Permanent Observer, Mission of the Pan African Intergovernmental Agency on Water and Sanitation for Africa to the United Nations, described late Mrs Nworah as a mentor.
She said Nworah inspired her by providing the needed support that propelled her to attained great heights in the academic realm.
“Mrs Nworah was a grade two teacher but made significant contributions to the growth of education in omabala area which led to the establishment of commercial schools and vocational training centres, affording young people the rare privilege of acquiring practical experience in home economics and entrepreneurship,” she added.
About five women from different countries of the world were featured in the second Edition of the EMPTISTORY OF ESTEEMED WOMEN. The first edition was in 2024, while the third will be published in 2028.
The publications can be traced to the United Nations women commemoration of Beijing+ 25 in 2020, when the Africana women working group, a coalition of Ecosoc accredited NGOs at the United Nations identified the urgent need to prioritise gender issues and commissioned a gender priority strategy.
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