The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bassey Otu, Mr Linus Obogo has hailed the state’s First Lady and wife of the governor for her commitment to humanity through her empowerment initiatives.
Obogo, in a piece he personally penned detailed how the wife of the governor has been able to stand with Cross Rivers people at different times while also reaching out to them through various empowerment initiatives.
He wrote: “In the boundless tapestry of service and benevolence, there shines a beacon of hope, an unrelenting commitment to humanity embodied in the exquisite vision of Her Excellency, Bishop Mrs Eyoanwan Itam Otu under the auspices of the Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative (HWB-EI).
“This initiative, it must be said, is not just a project but an extraordinary testament to selfless devotion, illuminating the paths of countless individuals through the pillars of healthcare, education, sustainable empowerment, and social welfare. Like a nurturing mother, Her Excellency extends her hands to the weary, the broken, and the marginalized, transforming despair into hope and tribulation into triumph.
Under the grand canopy of healthcare, this noble initiative unfurls a banner of healing across urban and rural landscapes alike. With free medical outreaches breathing life into thousands, the gentle touch of medical professionals has restored dignity to the afflicted. Over seven thousand souls, once burdened by the weight of medical conditions, now walk in the light of healing, courtesy of free surgeries and specialized treatments. Like a river quenching the thirst of the land, the Mma ADIAHA Mother and Child Care Kits flow into the hands of expectant mothers, ensuring that pregnancy, once fraught with uncertainties, now blossoms into a journey of joy. Awareness campaigns on maternal and child health are not mere words whispered into the wind but rather clarion calls guiding over 150 women towards antenatal care, family planning, and child nutrition. The advocacy for cancer awareness and prosthetic limb support stands as a formidable shield against affliction, granting a second chance at mobility and renewed purpose to the deserving.
“Like an architect building castles of knowledge, Her Excellency has shaped the landscape of education with interventions that transcend mere provision. The doors of learning have been flung wide open for indigent students, whose dreams once seemed unattainable. Scholarship awards whisper encouragement into the ears of aspiring minds, lifting them from the depths of despair to the pinnacles of enlightenment. The BACK TO SCHOOL AND MODEL SCHOOLS INITIATIVE ensures that no child is left behind, as school bags, textbooks, and writing materials become the ink with which their destinies are rewritten. Schools once worn by time now gleam anew with infrastructural support, while the GIRLS IN STEM PROJECT bridges the technological gap, ushering young girls and boys into a future bright with digital possibilities.
“Sustainable livelihood empowerment is the heartbeat of prosperity, a rhythm orchestrated by Her Excellency’s unwavering commitment to economic development. Skills acquisition programs in fashion design, ICT, and agriculture serve as golden keys unlocking doors of opportunity. The MARKET WOMEN CASH GRANTS EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME breathes financial stability into the bustling markets where the resilience of women flourishes. The provision of starter packs and micro-grant schemes emboldens entrepreneurship, while the 1-million-naira empowerment initiative for female mini-bus drivers fuels both ambition and independence. Like the gentle morning sun caressing the earth, the empowerment of widows, retirees, and the elderly casts warmth upon those who once shouldered the burdens of yesterday, ensuring they find solace in the embrace of self-reliance.
“In the realm of social welfare and humanitarian service, compassion weaves its golden thread, binding the wounded hearts of society. The remodeling of prison kitchens, administrative blocks, and clinics is not merely a physical transformation but a profound statement that even within confinement, dignity must thrive. Buses, symbols of mobility and inclusion, have been purchased for orphanages and homes for the needy, ensuring that the road to a better future is never out of reach. Care packages, tenderly assembled, find their way into the arms of orphans and the aged, whispering assurances that they are neither forgotten nor forsaken. The outreach to internally displaced persons at ADAGOM IDP and the provision of legal and psychological support for survivors of gender-based violence serve as a clarion call to justice, a firm declaration that no victim shall stand alone.
“With time, the heartbeat of Cross River State shall echo even louder, resonating with compassion, empathy, humanity, peace, and an unrelenting pursuit of higher glories. Under the motherly care of Bishop Mrs Eyoanwan Itam Otu, destiny shall mold a future where the footprints of her reign as First Lady will be etched in gold, brimming forth an enduring legacy of compassion, love, care and grace. And as Cross Riverians look towards tomorrow, they do so with faith, knowing that under the loving care of Her Excellency, Bishop Mrs. Eyoanwan and her princely husband, Bassey Otu, Cross River shall continue to rise, unyielding and majestic, like an eagle soaring to uncharted heights.
All that Cross Riverians owe this First Family is our fervent prayer, a sacred offering for wisdom and strength upon them, that they may continue to chart a course steeped in excellence, guided by integrity, and fueled by love for the people. For that is the only way they can bequeath to us a land kissed by destiny, nurtured by vision, and blessed by divine favor.”
Obogo who is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State can e reached via linusobogo@gmail.com
Eyoanwan transforming lives, journeying through humanity without borders – Linus Obogo
