A new executive has been elected to oversee the affairs of Eket Senatorial District Women Forum for the next three years. The executive has Mrs. Idara Ephraim Akpan from Mkpat Enin as president, Obongawan. Bright Archibong from Eket as vice president while Dr. Mrs. Mercy Ita Effiong from Udung Uko is to serve as secretary.
Other members of the executive are: Veronica Godwin Clement (Okobo), Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Nene Okung Ntofon (Urueoffong Oruku), Treasurer, Idara Ime Umoh (ONNA), Financial Secretary while Comfort Etim Anteh (Mbo), will serve as the Welfare Officer.
Also on this list are: Lucy Joshua Herecho (Ibeno) Organizing Secretary, Sarah Alali Awaji (Eastern Obolo) Publicity Secretary, Barr (Mrs) Mfon Charles Udoinyang (Ikot Abasi) Legal Director, Julieth Magnus Archibong (Oron) Provost, and Aniefon Edoho Ntekim (Esit Eket), Auditor.
At an enlarge stakeholders meeting of the group convened by the wife of governor, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel on Monday at the Banquet Hall of Government House, the recently inaugurated executive members promised to discharge their duties diligently in line with the constitution of the group.
In her remarks during the familiarization meeting, Dr. Emmanuel commended the out-gone executive of the forum for working assiduously over the past three years to foster unity and progress amongst women in the area and also paid special tribute to the outgone president, Akwaobongawan Patience Akpabio UdoUkpa for a wonderful job done.
To the new executive members, she charged them to hit the ground running by evolving programmes that will benefit rural women, saying one of the pillars of the group is to provide a platform where women are mentored for optimal productivity at the grassroots.
“In 2017 when we formed this group, the main idea was to gather women together so we could reach out to the unreached. I must say that though a lot has been achieved in this regard, more still needs to be done,” said the governor’s wife.
Speaking on unity, the first lady tasked the executive to work in line with the slogan of the group which is “One Voice, Unity is Strength”, adding that with unity as the bedrock of the organization, a lot will be achieved. Dr. Emmanuel further encouraged the executive to teach rural women entrepreneurship, saying the era of idleness and laziness is long gone.
s been achieved in this regard.
Similarly, Senator Dr. Akon Eyakenyi who served as the electoral committee chairman, while informing the governor’s wife on the processes that led to the formation of the new executive, said after a painstaking effort by the electoral committee, the best were elected to run the group in the next three years.
She paid special thanks to the governor’s wife for her motherly support, stating that without her support, nothing formidable would have been achieved at the end of the exercise.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey in her remarks, thanked the governor and wife for providing a conducive environment for women to explore their God given potentials. She noted that the group was instituted by the governor’s wife to give women opportunity in governance, saying a lot has been achieved.
Earlier, the new president of the group, Mrs. Idara Akpan in her remarks appreciated the First Lady for her kind gestures towards the women of the senatorial district and the entirety of Akwa Ibom women.
Akpan said the new executive hopes to build on the efforts and successes of the outgone executive while also bringing to fore their creativity, initiatives and concepts that will guarantee the socio-political and economic emancipation of the women in the district.
(C) Koko Udonquak.. Press Unit
