Though women in Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State know they have several assets and opportunities from diverse sources and stakeholders, they have never been given account of how these were being managed. It was, therefore, a surprise to them when their current Leader, Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple presented them with an account of what they have and how it has been managed since January 2020.

Pepple, who assumed office as the Leader of the Bonny Women Forum on Friday, December 27, 2019, announced to the apparently excited women gathered at the Bonny Women’s Hall along King William Dappa Pepple Road, Bonny, on Saturday, November 20, 2021, that they realized N883,500 and expended N777,100, with a balance of N106,400, for the year ended, 2020.

According to the account as rendered by the Financial Secretary of the BWF, Silverline Attoni, the women realized a total income of N1,921,400 for 2021, which includes N652,000 from rentals for the open space at the Bonny Women’s Hall; and N602,000 from rents for the stores; and made expenditures of N921,550; with a balance is N999,850.

She further announced that some corporate entities have partnered with the Bonny Women Forum (BWF) to rehabilitate, electrify and beautify the Bonny Women’s Hall, which is the major asset of the women of the kingdom.

She further announced that, in furtherance of affirmative action for women, some of the companies have provided employment opportunities through the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC) for the women, among other deliverables.

Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple was elected by collegiate consensus as the Leader of the Bonny Women Forum (BWF) in a meeting of representatives of women from the chieftaincy house of Bonny Kingdom with the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini Willian Dappa Pepple III, JP, Perekule XI, on Friday, December 27, 2019 at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny.

Since then and in line with her inaugural avowal of chasing opportunities that would benefit the women, Pepple, who was the first female Secretary to the Bonny Local Government Council, has raised the bar of responsible and responsive leadership in the past two years.

She also rendered the saddening account of how the number of young women exposed to social vices and health risks was growing in Bonny LGA, urging the mothers to wake up to their duties of guiding and mentoring their girl children in the path of rectitude, lamenting that women, especially, girl children caught in drug use and abuse was from the statistics available astronomically high, same with those affected by sexually transmitted infections and unplanned and early pregnancies.

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“Some of us are worthy to be called mothers. I keep asking, where were we when our girls are being infected? Where were we when our girls are being impregnated? Where were we when our girls are going into drug abuse? It is a collective guilt and we should be ashamed to be called mothers.”

“I urge you to wake up to your responsibilities. Bonny women wake up, wake up and play your role. On judgment day when God will ask I will tell him that I tried to mobilize you. All of us will give account on judgment day. Bonny women wake up, Bonny daughters wake up!”

“We need to scold our children in love. We need to correct our children in love. Even where your chief is not around, be the chief there and play your role.”

She used the occasion to express her appreciation, on behalf of the women to the various stakeholders, companies, and institutions that have partnered with the women to support their cause, appealing to them to do more with a view to improving the lot of women in Bonny Kingdom and beyond.

The BWF Leader asserted that it was time to revive the culture of Bonny Kingdom with regards to dressing and other issues, informing that various institutions and stakeholders, including event managers and decorators would be engaged to ensure that the customs and traditions of Bonny Kingdom are not violated.

Also speaking the Secretary of the BWF, Lily Hart enjoined the women to work together for the common good of women, stressing that unity amongst the women was critical to any achievement they envisaged as working at cross-purposes was inimical to the advancement of the womenfolk, expressing her appreciation for the support and cooperation they have accorded the leadership of the forum, so far.