Commissioner for Women Affairs Holds First Strategic Meeting With Ministry Staff, Urges Teamwork, Diligence

By Dominic Michael

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, held her first strategic meeting since assuming office, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, with the Permanent Secretary, Heads of Department, and staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Anambra State.

The meeting, themed “Let Love Lead,” provided a platform for the Commissioner to interact directly with the workforce driving the Ministry’s mandate. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Onyekesi appreciated every staff member for their contributions to the Ministry and commended past Commissioners for the foundation they had laid, encouraging staff to remain focused on their respective responsibilities and noting that the strength of the Ministry lies in the diligence of each department.

As part of the proceedings, Heads of Department, comprising the Accounts, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Rehabilitation, Child Welfare, Women Affairs, Social Welfare, Public Relations, and Administrative departments, introduced themselves and outlined the core functions of their units, an exercise that fostered clarity on roles and strengthened synergy across the Ministry.

Speaking further, the Commissioner urged staff to do the right thing at the right time, stressing the importance of teamwork and division of labour, and insisting that due process must guide every action, with no room for injustice in the Ministry’s operations. She charged every staff member to be conversant with the rules guiding their respective departments and, where cases arise, to settle them impartially and without bias. She also tasked every department to submit its records on a monthly basis, to ensure accountability and effective monitoring of the Ministry’s activities. She further assured that skills acquisition programmes would commence in due course, expressing hope that the Ministry would reclaim its reputation as a centre for genuine women’s development, rather than one associated with favouritism or the mere settlement of disputes.

In her response, the Supervising Permanent Secretary, Barr. Jacinta Nkeiruka Mokwe, commended the Commissioner for convening the meeting, describing it as a welcome step since the inception of the current administration, and assured that staff would work in harmony without friction.