Women have been warned against making politics a fulltime job. The caution came from Chinyere Nwoga, the first female president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA).

Nwoga, doctorate degree holder and founder of Soluzone group, who is first Nigerian woman to manage as managing director of a federal coastal fishing terminal, spoke at the ‘WomenConverge2025’, held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt. The event, organised by Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), had the theme: “The Women: In An Evolving World,” bringing together a large number of women for praise, worship, prayers, thanksgiving and discussions on how to keep moving forward. The group was active in mobilizing support for Gov Sim Fubara but transformed to an NGO to continue worship for the good of Rivers State.

Addressing the women, Nwoga said there was need to have a business that supports one and gives one some comfortable level and financial independence. “One of the handicaps women have in politics is lack of financial muscle. We depend on others most of the time to fund our political aspirators, but you can’t plan with other people’s resources.

“There are more dignity and respect when you can take care of your ambition to a reasonable extent. Sow the seed, before you start looking for water to spray on the seed. Even those in business have multiple streams of incomes. They are involved in multiple business varieties; see Dangote, see Adeleke, see Oladele, they never stop looking for new business.”

Nwoga made it clear it is business that one has nurtured that will support the one in old age, but politics happens in cycles. “Today you have access, tomorrow you don’t; it is very unpredictable. You can handover business to your children, you can’t handover political position to your children? Poilitics is good, politics ensures governance but it needs to be supported. Me, I would like to be a governor o! But my business comes first.”

The women with over 35 years cross-industry experience starting as a radio presenter, editor, publisher, to now, president of the second largest city chamber in Nigeria, told the women that the world is fast evolving politically, technologically, and socially.

She however said the speed is not reflected in the cultural sphere, but has come with an expansion of roles of women beyond the traditional roles of nurture and care givers.

She pointed to various other degrees of trauma women face: “We come to the workplaces, we have to deal with gender parity, lower pay for same job, harassment of all forms.

“When a woman is assertive, she is bosy. When she expresses displeasure, she is too emotional, when she asks questions, she is too over bearing. When she is quiet, she is too docile, when she resists insult and demands courtesy, she is over reacting.”

Read also: PHCCIMA gives tips to reignite Rivers economy

What a woman can do:

On hard decisions a modern woman has to take, Nwoga showed different ways women have been subjected to secondary roles in industry and politics and showed what women should do.

“To rise above these, the modern woman has to make hard decisions. She has to find within herself, what works for her, what matters to her, what makes her fulfilled. If she decides to be a stay-at-home mom, all good and fine, but it needs to be her decision.

“If she wants to be in the workspace and be a wife, then she has to choose a partner who will allow and encourage her to be in the work.

“If we are going to make significant change, we need to address cultural barriers, financial handicaps, educational disadvantages, structural defects.”

She said this is where the PHCCIMA comes in, and harped on the international trade fair the chamber organizes which is back. She also gave numerous advantages of the trade fair and the many concessions to women business owners. “Now we have the women wing of the chamber in Nigeria called Women Chamber of Commerce industry, Mines and Agriculture (WCCIMA). I am the national vice chairman of the body and every state has a chapter. The Rivers/Bayelsa chapter has their office in our chamber. This is a platform created for women in business. It provides access to information, networking, access to affordable funding (500 grant) it is actually a pipeline for funding for women, and we are working closely with BOI to ensure that women have access to funding at affordable rates and without conditions that are too difficult to meet. This year alone we have about three (3) programmes jointly with BOI. There will be many more for next year 2026.

“All I have said in the past few minutes reflect our efforts to encourage women to do business and stay in business.”

Valerie Fubara praises Rivers women for showing strength:

In speech-in-chief, Valerie Fubara, first lady of Rivers State, praised women in Rivers State and across Nigeria for showing strength, courage and determination in today’s challenging world.

Fubara said women have continued to do well in business, farming, industry, public service and politics, even while facing economic pressures and family responsibilities.

“Women remain strong and relevant in this changing world. They keep pushing forward with faith in God and a desire to achieve more,” she said.

She described the gathering as an important moment for women to support one another and to contribute to peace and development in Rivers State.

“Our women have always been pace-setters. Your prayers and commitment make a big difference in our society.”

The first lady encouraged women to stay prayerful, united and focused, saying God would reward their efforts. She thanked them for their support for her and her family.

The event also featured a keynote message from Eno Jerry Eze, a pastor; a prayer session led by Opuaya Bipiminayefie Agha of When Women Pray International, and praise and worship from several gospel ministers.

Fubara prayed God to strengthen women as they deal with the challenges of an ever-changing world.