Born 42 years ago to the family of late Godwin Nkemdilim Ejike of Ozom Aguobu-owa, Ezeagu local Government area of Enugu State, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Her Excellency Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio was indeed destined for greatness.
Shortly after her husband’s inauguration as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007, Mrs. Akpabio whose passion has always been to salvage many from misery swung into action establishing the Family Life Enhancement Initiative(FLEI), a Platform she has since used to implement her social and humanitarian programmes for the not so privileged ones among us. As part of her humanitarian works, FLEI has played its part towards reducing social disadvantage among Akwa Ibom Families in various ways. These include shelter support for the homeless, multiple birth interventions, legal aid and prison interventions, child rights and rehabilitation, economic and political empowerment, just to mention a few.
According to the words of the late British prime minister, Winston Churchill ‘’History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.’’ Mrs. Akpabio is indeed writing history herself. For instance, the Shelter for Widows Programme was birthed a few years ago by her to provide homes for widows bearing in mind the trauma they usually go through as a result of their husband’s demise. As at the last count, at least over 100 widows have so far benefited from the shelter programme of Her Excellency, the wife of the Governor.
FLEI is also not leaving any stone unturned in the area of multiple birth interventions, having in mind the maxim that health is wealth. Every quarter, FLEI organizes health seminars for multiple birth parents. This seminar often presents opportunity to educate parents on hygiene, provide some basic health information to parents of multiple Birth and as well donate cash grants to them. So far, more than 4000 families have been rescued from the clutches of maternal and child mortality since the inception of the programme.
Child rights and rehabilitation has been another focal area of Her Excellency’s pet project. The focus is on promoting respect for the dignity of the child which is not just a matter of choice; but a human rights imperative. Hitherto Akwa Ibom state was endemic for child labour and trafficking, Mrs. Akpabio has tackled this scourge to the barest minimum through a combination of advocacy and direct interventions. She initiated a vigorous campaign against child labour and trafficking, using the mass media; newspaper, radio, TV programmes and personal advocacy with government agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders. Her efforts were fruitful as it culminated in the enactment of a Child Rights law in 2008, which criminalizes child abuse in all its forms and also makes it a crime for children of primary and secondary age to be out of school.
Mrs. Akpabio has also facilitated the rehabilitation of hundreds of children who were formally branded witches and wizards and were thrown into the streets. Today these children have been enrolled into various schools and live in the comfort of a loving foster home run by Mrs. Akpabio in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare. It is on record that over 5,000 children who were living in servitude from various Country and the west African sub-region have been repatriated through Mrs. Akpabio’s intervention.
Also worthy of mention is Her Excellency’s economic and political empowerment for the women of Akwa Ibom State. According to the Chinese proverbs that says ‘’teach them how to fish rather than giving them fish’’, Mrs. Akpabio has facilitated the provisions of fishing boats and tractors from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the coastal women and women farmers across the state and supports them with equipment and business start-up grants. Since 2007, over 2,000 women mostly persons with disability, orphans and widows have benefited from this intervention plan. Also historic is the Women Agro Entrepreneurial Development Programme (WAEDEP), about 4,500 women across the three senatorial of the state have benefited from the 250,000 grant scheme given by the state government.
Mrs. Akpabio has promoted the political empowerment of women, through the campaign for 35 percent affirmative action. Today, there is a quantum leap in the number of women occupying political offices, whether elected or appointive. One of such achievements is the appointment of the first female deputy Governor of the state since its creation in 1987. Akwa Ibom Women have been brought out from the backseat of yesteryears to the front row of public life, thanks to the wife of the Governor Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio. With the proper positioning of women in the political scene presently, one is positive that the future holds great prospect for the women of Akwa Ibom State politically.
These, among several other achievements of Her Excellency Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio has endeared her to the hearts of many in and outside the country, earning her so many awards. Some of them are; Patron, Widows Rights Advocacy network, the prestigious Congressional Awards USA, 2011, International Women Achievers Awards Ontario, Canada, 2011, Mother of Mercy and Pearl by the Anglican Communion of all Saints Uyo, 2012, Golden Star award of Ikot Ekpene Diocese of Catholic Church, 2013 and most recently, the Most valuable Governor’s wife 2014.
As Her Excellency adds another feather with the conferment of the Most Supportive Governor’s Wife 2013, the first of its kind by the Sun Newspaper publishing Company, the amiable and compassionate wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor deserves our congratulations, while imploring other well meaning citizens to emulate her good works.
With her numerous humanitarian gestures, She has indeed been an uncommon pillar of support to the uncommon transformer of our time, His Excellency Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON) the Executive Governor of our Dear State. Congratulations Mkpouto Akwa Ibom on your well deserved recognition.
Comfort Williams, is the Press Secretary to the Governor’s Wife
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