A four-day retreat on  Protocol, Etiquette and Administration, began on Wednesday at the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State.

The retreat which was declared opened by  Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, said the meeting was for the wives of the governors, deputy governors and of Service Chiefs. According to her, the retreat was organised to ensure style, substance and best global practice as well as to familiarise the ladies with the best practices in Protocol, Etiquette and Administration.

“ It is, therefore, necessary that if we must get it right, there must be a radical transformation in the way we do things. This is the main reason we are here, to learn new approaches that are in conformity with International standards and best practices and also in consonance with the transformation agenda of the Goodluck/Sambo administration,” Mrs Jonathan said.

Dame Goodluck Jonathan who was optimistic that the knowledge gained from the retreat would not only expand their horizon but also boost their confidence and help them support their spouses in conduct of their official duties advised them to disseminate all the information and knowledge acquired from the retreat to their various constituencies by imparting on identified targeted groups and individuals.

She expressed gratitude to the Cross River Governor Senator Liyel Imoke and his wife for the warm reception accorded them on arrival and also the management of the Obudu Ranch Resort for providing the right atmosphere for the programme. She disclosed that the choice of the Ranch Resort was a deliberate decision as the environment would afford them ambience for deep concentration.

In her address of  welcome, the Wife of Cross River Governor and the Chief hostess, Mrs.Obioma Liyel-Imoke appreciated the First Lady for her choice of the Obudu Mountain Resort as venue for the retreat. She remarked that the retreat has effectively opened the Cross River State Tourism Calendar which begins next month with the celebration of Yakuur New Yam Festival tagged LEBOKU and the popular Obudu Mountain Race which comes up every November as  well as the 32 day Calabar Festival  in a high profile manner.

She used the occasion to express gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan, for his approval for the Cross State Government to build a Presidential Retreat Camp in same fashion as that of Camp David in United States. She expressed her appreciation for the high profile visit recorded by the Ranch Resort since the Presidential Retreat four months ago.

“ I must restate that the Ranch has never hosted such a large array of high profile and influential personalities. I say this with all amount of seriousness as I am aware that this group constitute the highest number of would-be promoters of the Mountain Resort whose facilities naturally entitle it to have full occupancy year round,” Mrs Imoke said.

She advised the participants to take time off the retreat to visit some alluring tourist sites around the Resort, the Monoliths in Ikom, the Longest Canopy Walk Way located in  Boki and the Agbakim Waterfalls in Etung all in Cross River State.

Day one of the Retreat witnessed presentations on “Protocol and Procedure for Female Dignitaries”  “International Entertainment Etiquette and Dinnig Practices” “Table Setting Simultation/Demonstration”, “Fundamentals of Nutrition”, “Keeping a State Kitchen” and “Stress Management”.