MWAN: Ebonyi Welcomes New Leadership As Dr. Uche-Nwidagu Takes Over As 12th President

The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Ebonyi State chapter, on Friday inaugurated Dr. Nkiruka Bridget Uche-Nwidagu as its 12th president during a colourful and well-attended ceremony at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki.

The event attracted medical professionals, government officials and development partners, including the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Ogbonna Nwifuru, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Felicia Nwankpuma. In her valedictory address, outgoing president, Dr. Lilian Nwobashi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to members for what she described as a “biennium of collective achievements.”

She highlighted major milestones recorded under her administration, including statewide schistosomiasis campaigns executed in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation, alongside extensive radio and television sensitization programmes. According to her, the association distributed more than 3,000 personal hygiene packs to schoolgirls and over 400 dignity kits to survivors of gender-based violence. She added that MWAN Ebonyi conducted multiple screening programmes covering cervical and prostate cancer, hepatitis B and C, hypertension, obesity and breast cancer, including self-breast examination trainings.

Dr. Nwobashi further disclosed that the chapter produced over 82 radio programmes and 28 television broadcasts aimed at improving public health awareness. She also celebrated the historic hosting of MWAN’s national secretariat in Ebonyi for the first time, describing the feat as a landmark accomplishment. She thanked her executive team for their loyalty and dedication, noting that every success recorded was “a collective victory.”

In her acceptance speech, the newly installed president, Dr. Uche-Nwidagu, described her emergence as an honour and a divine mandate. She pledged to lead with integrity, ethical excellence and renewed commitment to transforming community health. Announcing the theme of the installation ceremony—“Empowering Community Health: Transforming Women and Children’s Well-Being Through Ethical Leadership”—and the sub-theme—“One MWAN, One Vision; Empowering Communities, Uplifting Women and Children, Advancing Ethical Leadership”—she said both messages represent a call to action. “MWAN is not just an organisation; it is a movement and a force for transformation,” she said, promising stronger collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, donor partners and community-based organisations to expand MWAN’s health interventions across Ebonyi.

Earlier, a keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Maria-Lauretta Orji underscored the role of ethical leadership in advancing community health. She stressed that women and children remain society’s most vulnerable groups and urged values-driven leadership for improved health outcomes. The ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities including Prof. Uzoamaka Vivian Muoneke, Arc. Chief Christian Asaga Nwali, Rt. Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu, Deaconess Nweze Chinwe Irene and Chizoba Nwancho, Esq., in recognition of their contributions to community health. The event concluded with renewed pledges of support from stakeholders, including the Chief Medical Director of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Prof. Uzoma MaryRose Agwu, and the husband of the new president, Barr. Uchenna Nwidagu, who assured the new executive of his full support in advancing women and children’s health in Ebonyi State.