C”River: Otu’s wife empowers residents with 15,712 Items in Central, Northern Districts

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has distributed 15,712 empowerment items to residents of the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of the state as part of efforts to tackle poverty, promote entrepreneurship and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable households.

The items were distributed during the conclusion of her Humanity Tour and Empowerment Programme at Ikom Stadium in the Central Senatorial District and St Thomas Teachers Training College, now McGettrick Institute of Technology, Ogoja, in the Northern Senatorial District.

The initiative, implemented through the Office of the Wife of the Governor under the Humanity Without Borders (HUWIB) initiative, saw 8,183 items distributed in the Central District and 7,529 in the Northern District.

The programme, according to a statement issued by her Press Secretary, Faith Okon-Egbujiem, was designed to strengthen household economies, encourage small-scale businesses, support agricultural production and create sustainable opportunities for women, youths and other vulnerable groups.

It also aligns with the People First agenda of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, which prioritises the welfare of citizens and inclusive development across the state.

Ahead of the empowerment events, the First Lady engaged traditional rulers in both senatorial districts, informing them of the programme and appreciating their support for her humanitarian initiatives. She also held consultations with stakeholders on strategies to deepen empowerment opportunities for women and promote grassroots development.

Addressing beneficiaries and community stakeholders, Bishop Otu said her humanitarian interventions were driven by compassion, love for the people and a commitment to service rather than a desire for public recognition.

“I don’t do this to show off, neither do I do this because I have too much. I do this because I believe in the power of love, I believe in compassion, I believe in service to humanity, and the Governor’s mantra is People First,” she said.

She added that empowering women had far-reaching benefits for families and communities, stressing that women remained critical to economic growth and social development.

“When you empower a woman, you empower a family; when you empower a woman, you empower a community,” the First Lady said.

She urged beneficiaries to put the materials to productive use, expand their businesses and deploy the opportunities provided to improve their families’ living conditions.

“Please use these materials to grow your businesses and support your families,” she advised.

The First Lady also called for unity, community participation and collective responsibility, urging residents to support initiatives aimed at advancing the state’s development and strengthening the administration’s People First agenda.

Among the items distributed were 17 minibuses, 11 tricycles, 33 motorcycles, 55 sewing machines, 50 grinding machines, nine cassava-processing machines, 22 baking ovens, 110 Point-of-Sale (POS) machines, 80 large umbrellas and five refrigerators.

Other vocational equipment included 55 barbing clippers, 55 hair-washing units, 55 hair dryers, 110 generators, 10 makeup kits and 198 aprons, among other materials intended to help beneficiaries establish or expand income-generating ventures.

In the agricultural and food-support component, the programme provided 3,200 units of fertiliser, 6,622 units of rice, 1,248 units of beans, 700 units each of tomatoes, cooking oil and seasoning, as well as 300 units of salt.

The intervention also covered household and social welfare needs through the distribution of 1,100 wrappers, 22 packs of fingerlings, educational materials including exercise books, Bibles and English textbooks, seven wheelchairs, four crutches and mother-and-child care kits.

The inclusion of agricultural inputs, vocational equipment, food items and mobility aids reflected the programme’s broad approach to addressing economic hardship while catering to the needs of different categories of residents.

Beyond the distribution of materials, the tour provided an opportunity for the First Lady to interact with women, traditional rulers and grassroots stakeholders, strengthening community engagement and identifying areas requiring sustained support.

The successful conclusion of the programme in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts marks another phase of Bishop Otu’s humanitarian activities across Cross River State, with a focus on promoting self-reliance, supporting vulnerable households and creating opportunities for economic advancement.

The Humanity Without Borders initiative underscores the First Lady’s commitment to translating the administration’s People First philosophy into practical interventions aimed at building stronger families, productive communities and a more inclusive economy.