Gov’s wife task Christian churches to support poor families educate their children … donates 1m for Church Evangelism

Wife of Akwa Ibom governor Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio has called on parents, caregivers and the church to be more proactive in the discharge of their responsibilities as custodians of children as they were gifts from God so they could give good account of their stewardship to God. 

Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio gave the charge last weekend when she visited Qua Iboe church, 112 Nwaniba Road, Uyo where the church celebrated its 105 year’s anniversary and grand reception for Deacon. Udom Emmanuel, Secretary to Government, in her remarks she encouraged the church to always stand by the government by praying for those in place of authorities saying Mr. Udom Emmanuel is a good administrator whose contributions to Chief Godswill Akpabio’s administration and the state in general were immense. She noted that he is a good ambassador of the church and as such deserved the honour. Mrs. Akpabio also said the church should willingly donate Udom Emmanuel to higher services when the call beckons.

The governor’s wife while speaking also dealt extensively on child theft and baby factories proliferation in the country saying the evil deed was gradually permeating every part of the country including Akwa Ibom. She said the solution for this is for parents to inculcate core family values such as right attitude and beliefs in their wards while they are young stressing that it will be hard for them to derail when they grow.  

She pleaded with parents not to abandon the education of their children to strangers but should take advantage of the free and compulsory education policy of Government, tasking themselves financially to educate their children even up to the tertiary level. Mrs. Akpabio also advocated for an enhanced mother and child relationship so as to curb the menace. 

In her usual demonstration of love and magnanimity, the governor’s wife donated the sum of one million naira to the church for its evangelism work, twenty wrappers and ten thousand naira each to twenty widows.

Earlier in the day, the governor’s wife took her advocacy campaign against child theft and baby factories to the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Pentecostal centre, 11 spring road, Oron LGA.

Enlightening the congregation on the heinous crime committed by these kidnappers and traffickers, Mrs. Akpabio called on parents to be sensitive to their children’s need irrespective of their economic status. In her words “the issue of baby factories in the state and the country is becoming quite alarming, if not tackled now, may consume all of us. I am here because I know that the target audience is here, this is why am preaching this message so you may take it back and spread the massage.”

The governor’s wife called on parents not to give out their wards to individuals who come with enticing offers to render help but with aims of inflicting pain, misery on the children, “nobody can love your child more than you, so when they come with enticing offers like I want to train your child for you, ask relevant questions that will help you unravel their hidden intentions and agenda”. Mrs. Akpabio said since the crime was on the increase, all of us must corporate in order to defeat it.  She noted that the female children were not the only target of these criminals but that male children were also used as sex slaves to impregnate the female ones, calling on our young men to be contented with what is provided for them by their parents. 

Also during the church service, the governor’s wife witnessed the solemnization of holy matrimony between Comfort Etim and Etim Ante where she advised them to remain loyal to their vows; the wife should be submissive and ensure her husband’s meals are well prepared while the husband should love his wife as Christ charged.

 As part of her gesture to the church, Mrs. Akpabio donated the sum of five hundred thousand naira to the church and two hundred thousand naira to the choir, while giving out twenty wrappers and ten thousand naira each to twenty widows of the church. 

Thanking the governor’s wife for the visit, the pastor in charge of the Pentecostal center of the brotherhood and cross and star, Pastor Etim Esenam said her message to the church were well received and  that her good works speak volumes of her passion in putting smiles on faces of people.

On her Excellency’s entourage for the sensitization visits was the wife of the speaker, Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, Mrs. Mary Ikon, wife of deputy speaker, Mrs. Ime Udo Kierien, commissioner for women affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, coordinator of Family Life Enhancement Initiative, Mins. Asuama Sydney, wives of commissioners and special advisers led by Mrs. Ann Enoidem, Okobo LG chairman, Hon. Mrs. Felicia Bassey and counterparts Hon. Mfon Ekong of Nsit Ibom, Mrs. Kenim Onofiok, Udung Ukor, Mrs. Gloria Useh of Ikot Ekpene LG as well as various women groups.