Judith Amaechi

Judith Amaechi
Judith Amaechi chatting with volunteers at Government House in Port Harcourt (April 2009)
First Lady of Rivers State
In office 26 October 2007 – 29 May 2015
Preceded by	Mary Odili
Succeeded by	Eberechi Wike
Personal details
Born	Judith Obiajulu Nwankwo 24 December 1970 Enugu Ukwu, Anambra State, Nigeria
Political party	All Progressives Congress
Spouse(s)	Chibuike Amaechi (m. 1993)
Children	3
Residence	Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Alma mater	Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Religion	Christianity

Dame Judith Obiajulu Amaechi (née Nwankwo; born 24 December 1970) is the wife of former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi. She is head of the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) which campaigns against HIV/AIDS, advocates the rights of the women and children, and promotes gender equity and Girl Child education.^[1]

Amaechi was born on 24 December 1970 in Enugu Ukwu, Anambra State.^[1][2] She attended Federal Government Girls College, Abuloma for her secondary education. She then attended Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she graduated as an Urban and Regional Planning Professional. She married Chibuike Amaechi and they have three children.^[1]

Amaechi launched the Empowerment Support Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), on 16 October 2008. The NGO provides practical support and advice for women and children, particularly the most disadvantaged.^[3] In June 2009, speaking during International Widows Day, Amaechi called for review of native laws and customary practices that cause distress to widows, sometimes throwing them into abject poverty.^[4] In March 2010 she visited Israel with the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Manuela George-Izunwa, to inspect farms and discuss training and development of agriculture among women in Rivers State.^[5]

In 2009 Amaechi sponsored a free mass de-worming program Rivers State children.^[6] She was a strong supporter of the Child Rights Act passed in Rivers state in 2010, aiming to prevent abuse of children.^[7] In August 2010 she opened a four-week Information and Communication Technology Farm, which provides free computer training in the holidays to junior and senior secondary school students.^[8]

References

1. "Her Excellency Dame Judith Amaechi – A Profile". Riversstate.gov.ng. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
2. "Mrs Amaechi Celebrates Birthday With Children". The Tide. January 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
3. "As Empowerment Support initiative (ESI) Clocks One". The Tide. October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
4. Clarice Azuatalam (June 23, 2009). "Amaechi's wife seeks review of obnoxious laws". The Nation. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
5. Godwin Egba (March 24, 2010). "Amaechi to Empower 2,500 Women". Daily Independent. AllAfrica. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
6. "De-worming Co-ordinator Lauds Judith Amaechi". The Tide. July 13, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
7. Omolara Akintoye (March 7, 2010). "Support child rights act -Rivers State First Lady". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
8. Clarice Azuata (2010-08-27). "Amaechi's wife harps on computer literacy". The Nation. Retrieved 2010-09-20.