BEVERLY HILLS, CA, July 17, (THEWILL) – Mothers in the South East zone of the country appear set to fight the ugly menace of baby factories in the area as they are now set to meet on ways of finding a lasting solution to the menace.
The event which is known as Ogbako Ndi Nne, meaning ‘gathering of mothers’ , according to a statement issued Thursday by the organisers, Access Media Limited, publishers of Working MOMs Africa magazine, Africa’s leading publication for working and career mothers, is for all women from the South East region of Nigeria.
The Project Coordinator of the event, Mrs. Mary Ikoku, said the event, which is scheduled to hold at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on July 26, is designed specifically to discuss issues of motherhood with particular reference to building a safe nation for Nigerian mothers, infants and children in the region.
She revealed that the theme for the maiden edition of Ogbako Ndi Nne, is : The Baby Factory Conundrum, A social discourse on the growing menace of baby factory activities, its debasing impact on motherhood and the pain of forced motherhood.
Ikoku said experts from the United Nations and other organisations in the region are expected to attend the event, noting that the summit has received support from Vlisco Nigeria Limited, makers of the popular Hollandaise textile material.
Rationalising her company’s support for the summit, Marketing Manager, Multi Channels, Vlisco Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Ada Alilonu, said “ Vlisco stands strongly against inhumanity of any kind to indigent young women that turns them into a means of living for some desperate persons who regard it as business.”
She maintained that “We will lend our voice to Working Moms in saying NO to baby factories and YES to wholesome, beautiful and gracious Igbo women.”
According to her, the Vlisco brand holds a place of pride in the lifestyle of the Nigeria woman, saying “for over a century, Vlisco has been in a love affair with the Igbo woman through our classic wax bloc designs that have become embedded in their culture.”
The Project Coordinator for Ogbako Ndi Nne said the UN Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, Dr. Joy Ezeilo, and former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, will deliver thought-provoking keynote papers , disclosing that other erudite speakers on maternal issues such as Prof. Obioma Nwaogu, and Prof. Nnennaya Kanno , will feature as speakers.
She added that each paper presentation would be followed by a panel of discussion by experts and stakeholders as well as a question and answer session, stressing that a communiqué will be produced from the discussion that will become a policy document for government of the region.
Ikoku said further that the event will be rounded-up in the evening with a Gala Night at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu saying highlights of the Gala Night include documentary on baby factory phenomenon, fashion show music, drama and comedy while a Charity Walk will be held on Friday, July 25 .
