By JOSEPHINE  IGBINOVIA

A graduate of Biology/Chemistry from the College of Education, Agbor, Delta State, Pastor (Mrs)Abigail Iruomachukwu is the Founder/Coordinator of Celebrating Womanhood Fellowship International. The organisation has since inception (in 2004) gladdened the hearts of hundreds of women in Lagos.  A woman of many parts, Pastor Abigail is also a trained cloth-designer. Vista Woman was with her recently. Excerpts:

Celebrating Womanhood Fellowship International takes care of women and everything that has to do with womanhood. We started by gathering women and praying together with them, and then going to visit and take care of widows. On this, Promasidor, Nigerian Breweries and Indomie have really been very supportive.

Individuals such as Mr.& Mrs. Ausbeth Ajagu have also been there for us.
Our objective is to help women discover themselves. As a matter of fact, we empower them spiritually, physically, economically, and emotionally. We also teach them skills.

So far, we have reached out to over hundreds of women. At a time, the ministry laid low because I was sick and had a major surgery. I had to allow myself to recuperate and this affected the progress of the ministry for a while. This was in 2009. Same year, I also had to relocate to Enugu where I am currently in the process of starting-up Celebrating Womanhood. At present I am trying to revive the Lagos chapter which has laid low since my surgery. I do not know why God has sent me to Enugu, but I believe He has got some tasks for me there.

Pastor Abigail

I remember vividly a time when Nigerian Breweries gave us some kiosks and cartons of drinks. That was before I fell ill in Lagos. We immediately used them to start businesses for six indigent women. We monitored those women to make sure they grew. We also worked in the area of education by supporting people with school fees. We may have gone underground for a little while due to my health as I earlier mentioned, but the fact remains that our visions and ideals have not changed. Hence, I am calling out to good-spirited individuals and groups to come to our support, and be a part of the success stories of the many more lives which we are out to impact.

Passion for womanhood

I would not say I am emotional, but I must say that I am very passionate about womanhood. I know that, if given a chance in any sphere, women will always do their best. The problem is that some cultures are inhibiting them. But, even at that, and even in their frailty, Nigerian women are extra-ordinary.  That is why I feel upset when I see them go through any sort of  pains.

I think we need to cultivate the spirit of mentoring and encouraging our fellow women. That is the only way we can overcome the many issues inhibiting us. Just look at what happened to one of us, Sarah Jibril. I have a mentor,  Rev.(Mrs.)Funke Adejumo, and she encourages me so much. Generally speaking, I do not know why some women do not like their fellow women, but with me, it is quite different.

I love my fellow women, and I also often see them loving me too because it is what you give that you take. Going by general speculations, the inability of many of us to be at par with fellow women is responsible for our being distant away from where we ought to be politically, economically and generally.

Though I was not at last month’s PDP primaries in Abuja, I feel hurt by the fact that we had several women in that congress and none could put up a hand for a fellow woman. That was really bad!! Maybe it is because of the society we live in, anyway. You know, here, we are taught to submit to men and be under them, and this has made most women not to be recognised where they ought to be. I am not a politician; I only always pray for the will of God to prevail in the life of whoever is taking up any political office; I am being partial. It is only God that can change, and when He is ready to make a change, He will surely do it.

I cannot castigate anybody because I have the love of God in my heart; not just for womanhood, but for humanity. I believe that whoever rules this country is God’s candidate because if He did not want him or her, he or she would occupy that position.   So, why should I castigate? It might even be a person who will turn out to be wicked to Nigerians  (for Nigerians to learn), for a purpose!!

Women and their emotions
I believe that one of the things inhibiting us (women) is emotionality. Women really need to get rid of emotions! Men, especially are beginning to take advantage of our being excessively emotional. That has become one of our weaknesses.

The truth is that you just cannot handle a prestigious political or economic position emotionally! Business is business, however, God puts it into our hand. He (God) is a businessman, and He believes everything should be done in a business way; by being strict and very disciplined. Society feels that women are  weaker vessels, and will always handle things(even serious national issues) in an emotional way, and that is one of the labels inhibiting us.

If you watch carefully, you will find that the few women who have risen to the top are women who have been able to do away with emotionality; they work and behave like real men. If more women can come out and prove their worth and credibility; women like Dora Akunyili and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, I am sure people will begin to develop confidence in us. Let me reiterate that getting rid of emotionality is one of the things we teach women at Celebrating Womanhood Fellowship International.”