Dr Chiesonu Iziga-Eruchalu has projected governor Peter Mbah’s women inclusion agenda to an international audience at the 12th Africa Investment & Trade Forum held in Algiers, Algeria.
The forum, organised by CAAID in collaboration with the African Union, Afreximbank and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, brought together Presidents, Ministers, Ambassadors, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking during a session on Women Empowerment and Inclusion, Dr. Chiesonu said she chose to spotlight Enugu State as a practical example of how intentional leadership can transform the role of women in governance and economic development.
“When I was given the privilege to speak, I knew exactly where my message had to begin — home. Enugu State. Nigeria,” she said.
“Because the most compelling evidence I could bring to an African stage was not a theory or a projection. It was a living, breathing example of what happens when a leader truly believes in women.”
She described Governor Peter Mbah as a leader who has moved beyond rhetoric by institutionalising women inclusion across governance and economic structures in the state.
“Governor Mbah does not pay lip service to women’s inclusion, he institutionalises it. From policy to appointment, from economic planning to grassroots development, he has made it unmistakably clear that Enugu’s growth story cannot be told without women at its centre,” she stated.
According to her, women in Enugu have been appointed into strategic decision-making positions, while female entrepreneurs and business owners continue to benefit from targeted support, market access, and economic opportunities.
“The narrative in Enugu has shifted; women are not just beneficiaries of development. They are architects of it,” she added.
Dr Chiesonu noted that inclusive governance has contributed to making the state’s economy more dynamic and resilient.
“When you include women, you do not just add to the economy, you multiply it,” she declared.
She further revealed that she urged African leaders and delegates at the conference to look towards Enugu as a model for visionary and inclusive governance.
“I stood before Presidents, Ministers, Ambassadors and leaders from across Africa and said with full conviction — look at Enugu. This is what intentional, passionate, and visionary leadership looks like,” she said.
The Nigerian delegate also commended Governor Mbah for creating opportunities for women to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for being the kind of Governor who understands that a state rises when its women rise. You have given us not just a seat at the table, you have given us a voice that echoes far beyond our borders,” she stated.
“Today, that voice was heard in Algiers.”
