By Peter Dibia (08137847696)
“An industrious woman is a joy and a succour to her family” , many will attest to this.
Being industrious includes working hard with energy, devotion, and diligence. Some of the most common traits of industrious people include efficiency, perseverance, and a strong work ethic.
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” say the Holy scripture.
Every Godly husband knows the value of a wise and industrious wife, so it should not be surprising to find that this is the kind of wife that God commends in His Word. We see this particularly today in the life of Hon. Mrs Rubby Emele which is one of the attributes of an excellent woman , focusing particularly on her industrious nature, though her wisdom is featured as well.
First, the industriousness of the excellent woman is on full display in. Proverbs 31. Verse 13 highlights this by telling us that she “seeks wool and flax.” In the ancient world, women who became adept at spinning and weaving were highly admired, so the fact that she seeks after the raw materials that make it possible to produce textiles is a sign of her respectability. Moreover, woolen garments could be costly in the ancient world, so the woman who “seeks wool and flax” is contributing to an industry that can provide a substantial income for her family. She develops her skills and then uses them to bless her husband and children. In our own context, this would speak to the propriety of women developing the skills necessary to bless their households. Women, no less than men, should be encouraged in their gifts and to pursue whatever training is necessary to use these gifts for the good of the family, the church, and the world.
In addition to her industry with respect to her family’s economic well-being, the excellent wife of Proverbs 31 also focuses on the world outside of her husband and children. “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (v. 20), seeking to fulfill the Lord’s command not to forget the impoverished in her community (Lev. 23:22; Deut. 15:11). She is generous to those who are not a part of her immediate household, no doubt in part because her industry has made it possible for her family to give abundantly to the poor. Although the public good done by the excellent wife blesses those outside her family, that does not mean her family enjoys no public benefit from her. “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land” (Prov. 31:23). In the Igbo culture , the elders met at the gates of the city in order to do business, settle judicial matters, and so forth. Thus, the excellent wife’s husband serves as a leader in his community, and he is well respected. Her wisdom and support have contributed to the standing of her husband in the city. Because she has a good reputation, Her understanding and kind demeanor (v. 26) advance not only her standing but also the standing of others.
Indeed, It has been said that “behind every great man, there’s a great woman.” .
Having made my point clear in my alluded narrations, it is pertinent now to let you know my inestimable readers, that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s appointment of Hon Mrs Ruby Emele as his Special adviser on Local Government and Chieftainacy Affairs Imo State is an appointment well deserved.
One can agree with me that, her appointment to be in charge of the 27 Local Government Area of Imo State, did not come to many as a shocker considering a number of factors. From the angle of experience, she has held some political positions were she performed beyond human imaginations and as such was seen as a round peg in a round hole.
Having been a former Local Government Chairman of Isiala Mbano in 2010, unfortunately her tenure was cut short by the dissolution of all council executives by the Rochas Okorocha administration in 2011, without any benefits and also the Imo State Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) within the same period.
According to my findings, Before Hon. Rubby Emele’s election as the Isiala Mbano Council Chairman, she has served as Executive Assistant on Women Mobilization in the administration of Achike Udenwa. All of these positions were earned in recognition of her qualifications, steadfastness and dogged spirit in accomplishing tasks assigned to her. Her Excellent performance in mobilizing and sensitizing Imo women at a time, the responsibility was saddled on her shoulders remains unbeatable record. Her motherly and friendly disposition almost hypnotized the women. Her down to earth approach and none arrogance made her a toast of Imo Women.
I also gathered that, when her family gave her the support to contest for the Chairmanship of Isiala Mbano Local Government Council in 2010, the women, youths and elders of the area saw the opportunity to express their trust in her ability to deliver good governance tainted in care and compassion, hence the interruption of her administration by the Okorocha action made the people to weep. All is now history. To God be the glory.
Beyond the obvious academic and practical experience considered before her present appointment, Mrs. Emele’s steadfast commitment to the All Progressive Congress (APC) leadership under Senator Hope Uzodinma, even at a time the opposition considered it impossible is seen as one rewarding credential that aided her appointment, because loyalty begets reciprocity. One would recall how Emele as far back as 2018 was preaching that Senator Uzodinma would take care of the people if given the chance to govern Imo. She was preaching this even before the APC primaries in Imo State.
Her appointment alongside other appointees, who were following Senator Hope Uzodinma for years, shows how rewarding patience, persistence and long suffering could be.
As a woman of great substance, she has again shown her capacity when it comes to governance and results driven purpose. Most Distinguished Senator Hope Ididika Uzodinma saw a great quality in her, that made him, to recommend her to be one of the legislative aides of the Senate president of Nigeria in 2019. Because of the role she played during the 2019 election and quest to make Imo people happy, governor Uzodinma thought it all wise to take her along on his journey to rehabilitate, reconstruct and recover Imo State from its lost glory. Her passion to contribute her quota in the transformation of Imo, is next to nothing, I could recall during one of my interviews with her, she said with Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo State, she has no doubt that Imo is in a good hand. As if that was not enough, she beat her chest and said Uzodinma will beat Dee Mbakwe’s record. But MA, his Excellencey is not one year in office but 100 hundred days why make such statement I asked her, yes he is not up-to one year but what he has achieved within his hundred days in office is a prove that he is ready to change the narratives and to govern, she said. That was the woman am talking about, she believes in Hope, she preaches Hope and above all she gives Hope.
Because of her service to God and humanities , Hon. Chief Mrs. Rubby Emele, was honored as Nnomanwereugwu on Saturday the 6th of June 2020 at St. Peter Anglican Church Amaraku, Church of Nigeria Anglican Dioceses of Mbano, in Isiala Mbano during this year’s women conference of Amaraku and Umueke Archdeaconry.
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