• As A’Ibom 1st Lady’s Pet Programme Uplifts 53,987 Lives

By Egufe Yafugborhi

UYO – GOVERNOR Umo Eno has commended eldest daughter, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, for sustaining the legacy of compassion to touch lives that her mother and Akwa Ibom First Lady, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, led through her pet project, Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) before her passing two year ago.

This is as the Akwa Ibom State Office of the First Lady and GIFA which were entrusted to Lady Obareki at the demise of her mother shared testimonies of positively impacting 53,987 lives as GIFA marks 2nd Anniversary which also coincides with Patience Eno’s posthumous birthday.

The governor reflecting on the painful loss of his wife and the daughter stepping into her shoes said, “Even as we continue to honour her memory, we celebrate the lives GIFA has touched through compassion, empowerment, maternal and child healthcare, literacy support, and protection of the vulnerable.

“I commend Lady Obareki for her resilience and dedication in sustaining this noble vision.
I appreciate the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, CON, and the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum for mentorship and support, our valued partners for standing with us and the people of Akwa Ibom for prayers and solidarity.

“GIFA at two is a testament to service, sacrifice, and impact. More golden years ahead. At this anniversary, I’ve directed the Ministry of Water Resources and AKRUWATSAN to partner GIFA to deliver functional Rural Water Project in each of the 369 wards within one year, in honour of the vision of my dear wife.

“As we celebrate impact and compassion, let us continue to uphold peace, unity, and development for a stronger Akwa Ibom. I am pleased to note that this initiative is fulfilling the foundational ideals and objectives set forth at its inception.”

Outlining the milestones achieved in two years of GIFA, Lady Eno Obareki asserted, “I can confidently state we have recorded remarkable strides in all the eight thematic areas of the programme.

“They include maternal and child healthcare, enhancing literacy and learning, improving environmental health, women empowerment, fight against diseases, care for the elderly, care for persons with disabilities and gender-based violence prevention and response.”

According to her, “9776 mothers and children were reached through healthcare interventions; 19,587 adults and pupils were impacted under the literacy and learning programmes; 13 borehole projects were provided in rural communities.”

She further listed 5,064 women economically empowered; 4,900 rural women men and children treated through medical outreaches; 10,800 senior citizens supported; 160 persons with disabilities assisted and 1,020 GBV survivors rehabilitated.

She disclosed plans by GIFA to “launch an intensive, year round Tech-Empowerment Accelerator where every year, 500 Akwa Ibom women will be equipped with market-ready, hands-on expertise in Software Development, Data Analytics, and Digital Innovation.

“We will provide high-level mentorship and employment-ready internships, grooming women who will become the primary architects of Akwa Ibom’s burgeoning digital economy.”

Lady Obareki eulogising her late mother, for birthing GIFA, appreciating Governor Eno, her father for his relentless support to GIFA in advancing the mother’s vision.

Speaking on behalf of the Governors’ Wives Forum, wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, also commended Lady Obareki for impactful achievements of the initiative and promised support and collaboration where necessary to achieve even more.

The event featured cutting of the anniversary cake, empowerments including presentation of cash awards of N1Million to winners of the GIFA second anniversary football match, Team COSAWA and N500,000 each to ten GIFA Icon nominees.

Further empowerment included presentation of N250,000, N150,000 and N100,000 respectively to winners of GIFA essay competition organised by CityWatch Magazine just as sewing machines and generators were also handed to selected beneficiaries by the Akwa Ibom First Lady Designate.