By Udeme Hosea
Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno has advocated for gender equality and a society where women voice will be heard and respected, even as she urged women of the state to respect, create environments of value and accelerate progress by breaking down barriers, challenge barbaric stereotypes and build a more inclusive and equitable future.
Pastor (Mrs) Eno who said the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme ” Invest in women: Accelerate Progress”, was a day set aside globally to celebrate the gains recorded in the pursuit of equality for gender, made this known yesterday during the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day Celebration in Akwa IBom State at Ibom Hall.
Pastor Umo Eno , Pastor (Mrs) Patience Eno and Senator Akon Eyakenyi at the 2024 International Women’s day celebration in Uyo
The first lady, while saying that the day provided an opportunity for women to reflect on their accomplishments in the society, urged Akwa Ibom women to brace up for the task ahead and re-affirmed her commitment to economic empowerment of Akwa Ibom women through her pet project, the Golden Initiative For All ( GIFA).
‘’ Today, beyond the fanfare and elaborate display of the rich culture and economic opportunities that abound in the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, I urge Akwa Ibom women, as the backbone of their families and communities, to brace up for the task ahead as enunciated in the theme of this celebration “Count her in : accelerating Gender Equality through economic empowerment “, which reminds us of work that still needs to be done in achieving gender equality’’.
Chair- Person, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council , Comrade Nsikak Okon
Pastor(Mrs) Eno also appreciated her husband, Governor Umo Eno for running an all inclusive governance and his gender friendly deposition of giving women opportunities in his administration to serve, appealed for more women to be considered in the ARAISE AGENDA .
Speaking at event, the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno thanked Akwa Ibom women for their supports to his administration and the development of the state, harped on the need for women in every household to engage in farming to ensure food sufficiency in line with the Agricultural revolution of the ARISE Agenda.
march Past by groups
Pastor Eno, further added that, the theme of the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration reflects his blue print of promoting Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME’s) in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, promised to continue in running a gender inclusive government .
In her keynote address, Dr. Uyai Akpanobong advised Akwa Ibom women to foster collective strength and empower one another for the betterment of the state.
She congratulated the Akwa Ibom State government for prioritizing inclusiveness and economic Empowerment, tasked women to work towards changing societal stereotype.
In her goodwill message, the Chair- Person, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council , Comrade Nsikak Okon commended Pastor Patience Eno for embarking on life touching projects for the betterment of women in the state , especially the support to parents of multiple birth, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the aged, declared the readiness of Ak- NAWOJ to support the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA) in their reportage and advocacy.
Other professional bodies including, Ikwo Abia Esq. President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Atim Ekpa of the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), Mrs. Grace Jumbo representative of Excellence Community Welfare Scheme (ECWES), Dr. Aniebuk Iwok of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria(MWAN); and Maria Akpan Esq. Of the Nigeria for Women Project, reiterated their readiness to partner office of the first lady in actualizing it goals .
The event witnessed march Past by women from the 31 local government Areas , Professional bodies, socio – political groups , exhibition of farm produce from the 31 Local Government Areas and cutting of the celebration Cake.