By Chinwe Onwosi
Over 500 indigent women of Afikpo South LGA have received Gas cylinders from the chairperson of the Council Mrs Ebere Eni Uduma.
This event took place on 29th September 2020 at the council headquarters in Nguzu Edda as a step down of the advise given by the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, recently that the national cooking gas and tree planting exercises should be stepped down to enhance the well being of families and also aesthetics of Ebonyi State and beyond.
In her remark, the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Ebere Eni Uduma said that names of the recipients were compiled from Ebunwana Edda, Ndioke Edda, Nguzu Edda, Ekoli Edda, Owutu Edda, Amangwu Edda, Amaoso Edda, Amaigbo Edda, Etiti Edda , and Ogbu Edda to ensure that women from each ward were captured after which 45 Gas cylinders were shared to each ward in the council for the indigents.
Mrs Eni Uduma cautioned the women to stop cutting of trees for firewood as the climate is not favorable to humans anymore and to endeavor that every woman plants trees in her home in order to enhance the well being of their families and the environment.
She called on women to ensure safety in the use of the cylinder as it is given to ease their stress from the olden days style of fetching fire woods and cooking to the modern life. She encouraged them to see the gas cylinder as an ease to them.
She said that the exercise was aimed at touching the lives of people at the grassroots of which she and the Chairman owed the people
T 
he indigent women, were seen dancing and singing praises because of this act. In her remark one of the indigent women, Mary Uka Nnachi appreciated the wife of the Chairman and applauded her for her insight towards their predicament. She said that cooking with firewood has caused her eye problems as she couldn’t see well anymore.
She promised to use the gas cylinder especially during the raining season when it’s difficult to get firewood also appealing to the Chairperson to assist them with money to buy gas.
Another recepient madam Nkama ojiugo, said she would encourage the planting of trees in her community because the planting of trees will help them when the sun is too hot. She said she was elated about the gift she received and promised to call her son who was in Anambra to consistently send her money to fill the gas cylinder.
Highlights of the event was planting of tree by the chairperson, distribution of gas cylinders and tutorials on how to use the cylinder by resource persons drawn from different walks of life
