Hon. Judith Ogbara. The Soothing Amazon of Eket Federal Constituency

Hon. Judith Ogbara. The Soothing Amazon of Eket Federal Constituency

Sometimes eagles choose the sublime quietude to carry other birds on their wings to greater heights. And those whose consummate humanism flows deep in their genetics like the oceans are often eager to step in the ring when confronted with the vulnerability of those in need of hope. Hon. Judith Mayen Ogbara endowed with an inexhaustible dosage of passion and empathy has through time supported those who came by her in diverse ways without being under the spotlight.

Hon. Judith Ogbara

As they say, times and seasons has its flows. It was now time for Hon. Judith Ogbara to earn her flowers in public and under the full glare of her people within and outside Eket Federal Constituency. Her key focus on human capacity development is embedded in the education of the girl-child and the economic advancement of women. Her recent scholarship awards and grants held in Okon-Eket for female undergraduates and women entrepreneurs from Eket Federal Constituency were both classic and humbling. At a time where education is competitive and most families are struggling to keep pace with fees, Hon. Judith Ogbara gave hope. Ten (10) female undergraduates earned a most valuable life-line via scholarships. Twenty (20) women got business grants. Ten women were each supported with One Hundred and Fifty Thousand (N150,000) naira . Then another group of ten (10) women entrepreneurs were given grants of One Hundred Thousand (N100,000) naira.

As always and everywhere she goes, Hon. Judith has consistently lit the torch of ‘Renewed and Sustainable Hope’ in diverse ways to women and girls across all social lines. These particular scholarship awards for undergraduate girls and handsome financial grants for women entrepreneurs in Eket Federal Constituency encapsulates her passion to lift those who cross path with her to greater heights. Whilst she was busy at speaking to the beneficiaries, someone whispered ‘Lady Judith is replacing the biblical Judith. We have never seen such massive support in a long time!’. That struck a familiar cord.

The biblical Judith was described as a devout woman with extraordinary piety, courage and faith. She saved her people from the rampaging and war thirsty Assyrian General Holofernes. Just like the courageous Judith of yore, our own modern day Judith towed the path of saving our women and girls from the rampaging path of illiteracy and poverty. Both are existential wars that must necessarily be fought to liberate humanity regardless of its stature or class. Hon. Judith Ogbara, the Amazon of Eket Federal Constituency though several channels has consistently anchored her humanitarian service on education of the girl child and the economic development of women. These core areas she opines are germane to our nation’s inclusive human and economic development.

Her quiet strides and the passion on the empowerment of women and girls speak to her endearing focus on career development. She is a key player in the oil and gas industry. She moved through the rung of the corporate world as Senior Media Manager in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to becoming a top female player in the industry as a stakeholder in the oil and gas sector. Her resilience in a largely male dominated space speaks to her clarity of vision and passion. And she has lived the vision in her dual role as the Managing Director of Stallionaire Nig. Ltd and also The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rosen Energy.

Currently, Hon. Judith Ogbara is the Chairperson of Advisory Board for the Gender Education, Engagement, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Program (GEEEEP). Her imitable strides across the business and humanitarian space speaks volumes about her passion and unalloyed value addition to the lives of women, girls and by extension our communities and country.

Diane Mariechild may have had Hon. Judith Ogbara in mind when she opined that ‘a woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform’. How apt! How very much this aligns with the social philosophy of Hon. Judith Ogbara. Humanity would not make giant strides without the candid and deliberate inclusion of women. And Hon. Judith Ogbara is illuminating the path for women and girls in her Federal Constituency.

@Emem Nkereuwem