The First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, has issued a powerful call to action for women across the nation, urging them to intensify their collective voices to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s political narrative.
Mrs. Otu delivered this charge during an engaging “meet and greet” event with members of “Team Mma Adiaha,” a formidable political support group of women from all eighteen local government areas of Cross River State.
During the gathering, Mrs. Otu lauded Team Mma Adiaha for their inspiring grassroots mobilization strategies, which have seen their membership burgeon from a small collective to over three thousand women. She underscored the paramount importance of unity in their endeavors.
“Team Mma Adiaha is a movement, which has the new slogan ‘leading with grace, governing with leadership’. This group started small, but has grown bigger with far reaching impact in the lives of people – women, children, youths and men – particularly at the grassroots,” The First Lady stated
“This is a homecoming of champions. Team Mma Adiaha is not just a political support structure, it is a foundation on which this journey of service is built. Women have been the shoulder for which the government has leverage and whatever women have is shared with families and neighbours.”
Continuing her remarks, the wife of the governor highlighted the inherent nurturing qualities of women and their societal contributions.
“A woman cares and shares to build society. After all, humanity means caring and sharing for people as we have always done through Humanities Without Borders (HUWIB).”
Mrs. Otu then elaborated on the impactful interventions facilitated through her pet project, Humanities Without Borders (HUWIB), detailing its focus on five core thematic areas: quality healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, quality education, social welfare, and environment.
“We have provided medical services to cover 13,000 people with 175 major surgeries. We also renovated the Calabar Correction facility clinic and equipped same with modern medical equipment. We enrolled 500 elderly citizens into the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme.”
“We also distributed more than 5,000 Mma Adiaha maternal kits to expectant mothers and in the process of giving out 3,000 additional bags. Still on the healthcare interventions, we provided 11 prosthetic limbs and 50 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities,” she added.
On the educational front, Mrs. Otu revealed:
“More than 7,000 pupils were given back-to-school supplies, while 50 children were granted scholarships.”
“We have empowered 10 thousand girls and boys in our Science and technology programme tagged ‘Girls in S.T.E.M.’ across the three senatorial districts,” she noted.
Concluding her overview of the interventions, Mrs. Otu emphasized the collective strength that underpins these achievements.
“These highlighted interventions are just the beginning, the real power lies in our unity and network as Team Mma Adiaha.”
Earlier in the proceedings, Professor Margaret Ene-Ita, the Director General of Team Mma Adiaha, expressed profound appreciation to the First Lady for her unwavering support, passion, dedication, and commitment to the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration.
“You have walked with the people, listened to their needs and always responded with action. You have inspired the discouraged, uplifted the vulnerable and reminded us all that leadership is best defined by service.”
“We pledge on behalf of the group to support the Otu led administration and mobilize all women in the state towards achieving results.”
The meeting also featured goodwill messages from notable figures, including Cross River State’s sole female parliamentarian, Dr. Mercy Akpama; the President of the National Council of Women Society, Cross River State, Mrs. Marjorie Asuquo; and a prominent stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Mrs. Emana Ambrose-Amawhe, among others.
A significant highlight of the gathering was the distribution of palliatives to over one thousand women representing all eighteen local government areas of the state.
