INI ADIAKPAN GATHERS A'IBOM WOMEN TO CELEBRATE MARTHA EMMANUEL AT 52: PROMISES AGGRESSIVE MOBILIZATION FOR UMO ENO GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRATION

 

By Edet Okpo

The unwavering and infectious love and solidarity of Akwa Ibom women for the Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor and First Lady of the State, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel was once again demonstrated in a grand style when they treated her to a surprised mega party to celebrate her 52nd  birthday anniversary. 

The event which was held at the Women Development Centre, IBB Way, Uyo and spearheaded by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in collaboration with strategic  women leaders, Women groups and Wives of traditional rulers  in the State, pulled thousands of women across the 31 local government areas of the State, who turned up in different colourful attires and in jubilant mood that saw the venue filled to the brim. 

According to the Commissioner in charge of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Akwa Ibom women have sufficient reasons to celebrate “a woman with  unbroken record of humility, fear of God, compassion, diligence and deep passion for service to humanity; to thank God for her  eventful life and the many things He has used her to do for the State, the country and the wider humanity”.

Giving highlights on the footprints and impact of Her Excellency’s advocacy and service to humanity, the Commissioner further described her  Excellency as a motivator, mentor, humanist and women leader, tracing her legacies to the birth of the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path Initiative (FEYReP).

“What quickly comes to mind as we celebrate Her Excellency are the many youths and women of Akwa Ibom State and beyond, especially widows and the physically-challenged, whose lives she has touched through her altruistic and humanitarian advocacies, pragmatic initiatives and outstanding commitments. Most prominent amongst them is the internationally recognized and celebrated Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path Initiative (FEYReP).

Dr. Adiakpan said this integrated and life-changing brainchild of Her Excellency that champions the emancipation of women and youth by building for them a solid platform for self-sustenance through vocational skills and entrepreneurship has clearly distinguished Her Excellency as a woman of vision, empathy and consummate passion for the development of the society. 

“Through this distinctive model, millions of Akwa Ibom youths have been equipped and launched into the world of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); women given interest-free loans to boost and sustain their various businesses; and many widows who once were homeless or lived in inhabitable environment are today proud owners of decent houses of modern taste. 

In separate goodwill messages delivered, the women described Her Excellency as a personification of love, benevolence and altruism. According to the Deputy Speaker and Member representing Okobo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Princess) Felicia Bassey, it was God’s divine design that Dr. Martha Emmanuel was sent to Akwa Ibom people in times like this. 

Bassey who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare stated that her 52nd birthday, like the previous ones, was marked by landmark projects she had provided for women and youth of the State. 

“You have been able to match words with action. By your populism and developmental initiatives, millions of youths have been empowered; women given interest-free loans to sustain their business; as well as multiple other ways through which you have created wealth. More importantly, the Akwa Ibom landscape is inundated with houses you have built for widows. the testimonial consensus is that Her Excellency has been a blessing to all by her benevolence and innovativeness as a social justice crusader and fountain of hope”, the Deputy Speaker observed. 

In her remarks, the  Wife  of the State Cjairman of PDP , Mrs Aniekan Akpan described Her Excellency as an amazon, catalyst, achiever, and an inspiration to younger generation of Women.  “Only God can bless her to the fullest measure for what she has done for Akwa Ibom women and youth in particular, the sate and humanity in general”. 

The goodwill message by wife of the Indigenous Military Administrator  of the State, Mrs. Fumi Idongesit  Nkanga, Her Excellency has surpassed expectations of many and  deserves to be celebrated by Akwa Ibom Women. She has challenged  other women in position of authority to use their offices to inspire and impact lives. 

Goodwill messages were also given by Wives of Paramount Rulers in the State, Legislators' Wives Association(LEWA)  , Wives of Group and Clan Heads, Female Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councillors, female youth, and Secretaries, different women groups and associations from all the local government areas of the state. It was revealed that, like never before in the history of the State, through the advocacy, diplomacy and colouration of Her Excellency with the Governor of the State, Akwa Ibom today has the greatest number of female commissioners, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Council, Directors, Permanent Secretaries led by Mrs Margaret Edem of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and Chairmen of Boards, Parastatal and Agencies. 

Also Present at the event were Wife of Head of Service, Akwa Ibom State; Wife of the  Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs. Ime Inyangeyen; Commissioners,  permanent secretaries, Directors, representatives of Heads of Correctional Centers and Immigration among others.

The climax of the event was the cutting of different colourful birthday cakes which were brought by different groups and toast by Mrs Ime Ephraim Inyang- Coordinator of FEYReP.  However, as part of the event vocational toolkits and start-ups were given out for skill acquisition training by those in various correctional centers in the State. They include refrigerators, hair dryers, sewing machines; payment of light fines to set free  inmates of correctional centers  who could not afford fines awarded against them by the Court ranging from N100, 000  down clippers, among other items. 

On her own, also as part of the 52nd Birthday celebration, Her Excellency donated yet another house to a widow in Abak Local Government Area. Record confirms that this is the 62nd house that has been built and donated to a widow by Her Excellency. 

Besides, over 7, 500 rural women have benefited from various FEYReP’s empowerment programmes and interventions, with many getting start-up grants of #200,000 to #100, 000 each. In healthcare, more than a whooping 30, 672 beneficiaries are said to have enjoyed free medical check-ups, with over 1000 given wellness kits.  

The women also commended Her Excellency for the support she has given to the husband, the Governor, to succeed in achieving the impressive strides in every Sector of the State economy .

 As was earlier stated in the address of Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, the entire Women of Akwa Ibom State  used the occasion to make known the collective resolve and bold stance that Akwa Ibom women have taken on certain matters affecting the leadership of the State as we move forward.

 

While the First Lady was the cynosure, the women also used the event to extol the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel, the space and understanding he has shown to the First Lady in her service to the people, their resolve to support the Completion Agenda and Succession plan  of His Excellency, which saw all the women endorsing the Governor and Akwa Ibom State Stakeholders' preferred  Governorship aspirant, Pastor Umo Eno, to succeed  him at the Hilltop Mansion in 2023. 

“Akwa women therefore cease this opportunity to express their unreserved gratitude for what His Excellency has achieved so far. Over six years after, we are glad and highly motivated that His Excellency has not diminished or lost the vision and steam with which  he began this historic journey in 2015. Your signature is unmistakable in the narratives of Nigerian States’ growth and development”, it was observed. 

Speaking further, the Commissioner observed on behalf of the women: This, among other things, has served as incentives that have strengthened the resolve of women to continue to support at full steam both the Completion Agenda and Succession Agenda of His Excellency. We trust that what His Excellency has seen in Pastor Umo Eno is what Akwa Ibom shall need in years to come to sustain the present momentum of growth and development for even better times.”

The women assured the governor that they will deploy every available tool at their disposal to mobilize women for that purpose. No wonder the slogan for their resolution was “AMEN. UMO ENO!” As we await this moment in our history, we join Akwa women to wish Her Excellency God’s protection, good health, long life and more opportunities to touch lives.