***Addresses Participants at 2026 August Meeting Organised by Ndom Obiwuruotu Home and Abroad
The Labour Party candidate for the House of Representatives, Owerri Federal Constituency, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has pledged to prioritise security, women empowerment and youth development if elected in the 2027 general election.
Speaking at the 2026 August Meeting organised by Ndom Obiwuruotu (Home and Abroad) in Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said her track record of humanitarian interventions demonstrates her commitment to public service long before seeking elective office.
The former First Lady of Ondo State said she shares a strong bond with the Umuguma community, noting that her relationship with the area has been strengthened through her Director-General, Prince Joseph Nwosu-Okorie, whom she described as a disciplined and committed son of the community.
She highlighted several interventions carried out through the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation, the BEMORE Empowered Girls Foundation and Widows Alert Nigeria, including the donation of motorcycles and financial support for community policing, welfare assistance for widows, and the training of girls from Umuguma through the annual BEMORE Summer Bootcamp.
According to her, participants in the programme receive training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), entrepreneurship, leadership and life skills, while each beneficiary goes home with a laptop computer and a home solar system to support continued learning and digital development.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu stressed that the interventions were undertaken without holding any elective office, expressing confidence that she would deliver more impactful programmes if elected into the House of Representatives.
She identified security as one of the eight pillars of her development blueprint, describing it as the foundation for sustainable growth and community development.
The Labour Party candidate expressed concern over the recent kidnapping of a family of seven along the Okpuala Emeabiam–Okolochi–Ihiagwa Road, saying the incident underscored the need for stronger security architecture in the area.
She argued that while technology such as drone surveillance could support intelligence gathering, it could not replace visible policing and community-based security operations.
According to her, effective security requires collaboration between well-equipped police personnel, local vigilantes and community policing structures to ensure rapid response, intelligence sharing and improved protection of lives and property.
Urging residents to assess her by her record of service, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she has consistently invested in community development, women empowerment, youth capacity building and local security initiatives without occupying public office.
She assured constituents that, if elected, she would pursue policies and programmes that would create safer communities, expand opportunities for young people, promote women’s inclusion and accelerate development across the Owerri Federal Constituency.
