Former Ondo State First Lady, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has called on women to strengthen family values, promote healthy living and actively participate in the democratic process, saying the future of society depends on the foundations laid by mothers.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the inaugural August Meeting of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) of Immaculate Conception Parish, Amakohia-Uratta, Owerri, on Friday, Anyanwu-Akeredolu described women as the bedrock of strong families, communities and nations.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Strengthening Our Foundation for a Greater Tomorrow,” she said the annual August Meeting remained a vital platform for women to exchange ideas, mobilise resources, resolve conflicts and initiate community development projects.

According to her, society is grappling with rising poverty, unemployment, drug abuse among youths and declining moral values, making it imperative for women to build homes founded on faith, integrity and responsible parenting.

“The future cannot be stronger than the foundation we lay today. Strong families are built on strong values, strong communities are built on responsible citizens, and strong nations are built on honest and selfless leadership,” she said.

The former First Lady identified five pillars for building a better society: faith in God, strong families, good health, education and skills, as well as compassion and service.

Drawing from her experience as a 29-year breast cancer survivor and founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), she urged women to prioritise preventive healthcare through healthy eating, regular exercise and routine medical examinations.

She also encouraged participants to adopt healthier lifestyles, noting that proper nutrition plays a critical role in disease prevention and recovery.

Highlighting the impact of education, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said investments in girls’ education, digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship would produce confident leaders capable of transforming future generations.

She further urged members of the Catholic Women Organisation to continue supporting widows, vulnerable children and the elderly, stressing that faith must always be demonstrated through acts of service.

Speaking on her aspiration to represent Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, she said her ambition was driven by a desire to provide effective representation rather than seek political titles.

According to her, her legislative agenda would prioritise improved primary healthcare, education, youth empowerment, women’s economic development, environmental sustainability and accessible representation.

She also unveiled the Widows Alert Nigeria initiative under the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation, designed to identify, register and empower widows through a comprehensive database to facilitate targeted interventions.

Recounting a similar initiative implemented during her tenure as Ondo State First Lady, she said more than 25,000 widows were digitally registered across the state’s 18 local government areas, enabling government and development partners to plan effective empowerment programmes.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu encouraged widows attending the programme to register with the initiative and urged CWO members to identify widows within their communities for inclusion in the database.

She also charged women to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for leaders with competence, integrity and character, insisting that responsible citizenship was essential for good governance.

The former First Lady commended the Catholic Women Organisation for embarking on the construction of its secretariat and pledged financial support towards the completion of the project.

She urged the women to return to their various communities as ambassadors of peace, unity and development, expressing confidence that stronger families and responsible leadership would pave the way for a greater tomorrow.