A tribute to exemplary leadership: Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru
Charles Iteshi,
Abakaliki.
The wife of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, is not only the First Lady of the state, she is also a proud and distinguished daughter of Ikwo, graciously given in marriage to another clan. She hails from a family with a deep-rooted legacy of agriculture and a strong moral foundation.
Her Excellency stands today as a shining example of industriousness and integrity, especially to the younger generation and, more significantly, to women. She consistently advocates for legitimate means of livelihood, urging young people to embrace hard work and dignity through ventures like agriculture, while firmly discouraging the culture of corporate and social media begging.
Her commitment goes far beyond words. Seeing her actively tending to her personal farm, cultivating, harvesting, and managing produce like pepper and tomatoes, is not only inspiring but transformational. It reflects a woman who is not afraid to get her hands dirty for the sake of promoting food security, healthy living, and economic empowerment. Her hands-on approach is a powerful statement on how women can contribute meaningfully to household and societal development.
This act of leadership by example, fondly seen in her nickname "Nneoha", encourages women and youth across Ebonyi State to embrace agriculture, whether on a backyard or commercial scale, as a noble and viable path toward personal growth and a stronger, self-sustaining society.
Indeed, Her Excellency embodies the timeless adage: “What a man can do, a woman can do even better.”
Her efforts are perfectly aligned with the ideals of the “People’s Charter of Needs”, the guiding philosophy and campaign manifesto of her husband, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (Onwa Oferekpe). Together, they represent a new era of purposeful governance, community development, and people-centered leadership.
Beyond agriculture and empowerment, the First Lady’s humanitarian impact speaks volumes. Through her flagship initiative, the Better Health for Rural Women, Children, and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), Her Excellency has transformed the lives of the most vulnerable in Ebonyi State.
In a historic intervention, twenty six (26) indigent widows, two from each of the thirteen (13) local government areas, have received fully furnished three-bedroom bungalows. This extraordinary act of compassion and empowerment has given these women a new lease on life and is widely recognized as one of the most impactful welfare programmes in the history of Ebonyi State.
Through her compassion, vision, and tireless dedication, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru has written her name not only in gold but in the hearts of countless Ebonyi women, widows, and underserved families. Her life and service are a testament to the power of empathy, responsibility, and true leadership.
