Ada Owere: The Woman Behind the Movement — Why Her Next Political Step Could Reshape Imo Politics

OWERRI — At a time when political conversations in Imo State are increasingly shifting toward competence, experience, grassroots connection and the ability to deliver tangible development, one name continues to attract attention: Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Ada Owere I.

For Betty, politics did not begin with an ambition for power. It began with a question: Why should communities with enormous human and natural resources remain trapped in poverty and underdevelopment simply because they lack a strong voice at the decision-making table? That question has followed her for years.

Born on July 20, 1953, into the family of the late Chief Benson Udushirinwa Anyanwu, popularly known as BUB, and Nneoma Dora Chinyere Anyanwu, Betty grew up in an environment where education, discipline and self-confidence were deeply valued. Her educational journey alone tells a story of resilience. From her early education at CMS Central School, Emeabiam and Avu, she proceeded to Egbu Girls’ Secondary School before the Nigerian Civil War interrupted her studies. When the war ended, she returned to school, completed her secondary education and obtained Grade 1 in the WASC examination.

Her academic journey later took her to the University of Nigeria, where she studied Zoology and graduated in 1977. She subsequently served her fatherland through the NYSC programme and joined the Federal Department of Fisheries. But Betty was not content to stop at her first degree. She proceeded to the University of the Philippines, where she obtained a Master’s degree in Fisheries, majoring in Aquaculture. Years later, after decades of professional, humanitarian and political engagements, she returned to the classroom again, obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Ibadan in 2022.

Her pursuit of knowledge has continued with doctoral studies in Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, with particular interest in renewable-energy applications in aquaculture. For Betty, education has never been merely about certificates. It has been about capacity, independence and service.

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO PUBLIC ADVOCACY
Perhaps one of the defining chapters of Betty’s life began when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. Rather than allowing the experience to define her negatively, she transformed it into a mission. She founded the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, and became one of the country’s prominent voices in breast-cancer awareness, advocacy and support. Her work subsequently earned international recognition, while her personal survival journey became a message of hope to countless women. Her philosophy has consistently been simple: survival should create responsibility. And that philosophy has extended beyond healthcare. Through various initiatives, she has championed women’s empowerment, education, youth development and grassroots intervention.

THE POLITICAL QUESTION
It was, however, her experience of the condition of her ancestral community, Emeabiam and other neigbouring communities, that increasingly pushed her toward politics. Emeabiam, according to her account, possesses fertile agricultural land, rivers and a rubber estate with enormous economic potential. Yet, despite these resources, the community has struggled with poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, educational challenges and unemployment. For Betty, this contradiction became unacceptable. She came to the conclusion that charity and personal intervention alone could not permanently solve structural problems. Political power, she reasoned, must be used to create sustainable development. That conviction took her into electoral politics.

In 2007, she contested for the House of Representatives to represent Owerri Federal Constituency under the All Nigeria Peoples Party. Although she did not win, the setback did not end her political journey. In 2011, she identified with the All Progressives Grand Alliance and played a role in the party’s political activities in Owerri West. Her political journey later expanded considerably following her husband’s emergence as Governor of Ondo State. As First Lady of Ondo State, Betty became associated with several programmes focusing on women, girls, education, technology, healthcare and social protection. Among them was BEMORE, an initiative designed to expose young girls to ICT, solar technology and other practical skills. There was also FOWOSO, which sought to empower women economically and encourage their participation in governance.

Other initiatives focused on expectant mothers, widows, birth registration, sports and protection against sexual and gender-based violence. These interventions helped build an identity beyond the traditional ceremonial role often associated with political spouses.

FROM ONDO TO IMO
Yet, despite her extensive work in Ondo State, Betty’s attention has never been far removed from Imo. Her interventions in Emeabiam have included efforts toward infrastructure and human-capacity development. Among the major developments associated with her advocacy was the attraction of a 10.5-kilometre road project in Emeabiam by the Niger Delta Development Commission. She has also embarked on the construction of a community health centre in her ancestral community. For supporters, these efforts demonstrate an important characteristic of her political philosophy: She does not believe development should end at speeches.

The question now being asked in political circles is whether her next chapter could take her activism, experience and development philosophy to a broader political platform. That question is gaining relevance because Betty has already tested electoral politics. In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, she sought the All Progressives Congress ticket to represent Imo East Senatorial District. Although the primary election did not eventually produce the outcome she sought, the experience further demonstrated her willingness to compete for political office rather than remain on the sidelines.

WHY BETTY?
For her supporters, the argument is straightforward. They point to decades of professional experience. They point to her educational qualifications. They point to her work in healthcare advocacy. They point to her record of women’s empowerment. They point to youth development. They point to her experience within government. They point to her political campaigns. And, perhaps most importantly, they point to her connection with grassroots communities.

At a time when Nigerians increasingly demand leaders who can combine competence with compassion and political influence with measurable impact, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu’s supporters believe her record deserves another look. Her political story is also one of persistence. She contested and lost. She continued. She entered another political platform. She worked within government. She returned to the classroom. She built humanitarian programmes. She continued advocating for her community. And she remained politically active. That resilience may become one of the defining arguments surrounding her next political move.

THE ROAD AHEAD
The big question is no longer simply what Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has achieved. The bigger question is: What does she intend to do with the experience she has accumulated over decades? For a woman who has moved from the classroom to the civil service, from professional practice to international advocacy, from surviving cancer to building a national cancer movement, from grassroots activism to the political arena, the next chapter could prove particularly significant. Her supporters see an opportunity for her to transform decades of experience into broader political leadership.

Critics and political opponents may have their own assessments. But one thing appears difficult to dispute: Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has never been afraid of difficult battles. And as political calculations ahead of future elections intensify, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has already indicated her interest in contesting for the Owerri Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the Labour Party, a development that is no longer hidden from the people of the constituency. Her political ambition and desire to return to the electoral arena are already known, and the conversation has shifted from whether she intends to seek the mandate to what her wealth of experience could bring to the representation of Owerri Federal Constituency. For a woman whose journey has been defined by resilience, advocacy, empowerment and a determination to turn challenges into opportunities, the coming political season could mark another decisive chapter.

This time, the question is not whether Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is coming—people already know she is. The question is whether Owerri Federal Constituency is ready to entrust its mandate to her.

Written by
Christy Emeka