MARTHA UDOM HAS EXCEEDED 35 PERCENT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR A'IBOM WOMEN - SEN. AKON EYAKENYI

 By Ubong Creativity David

Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi PhD has said that the wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel have exceeded the 35% affirmative action agitation for women in Akwa Ibom State.

Senator Eyakenyi made the disclosure yesterday at the End of the Year Get Together event organized by Eket Senatorial District Women Forum held at Eket Council Secretariat ground.

"Your Excellency, few years ago, you gave birth to this forum when you see the need for the women of this Senatorial District to come together. Today, the women of Eket Senatorial District are together. There is spirit of unity. There is spirit of togetherness. We are very proud of what you have done for us. Women have been crying for 35% affirmative action but you have exceeded it."

Sen. Eyakenyi extolled the good virtues of Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel as a model of womanhood in Nigeria, saying she had set a good example for others to emulate. She commended the pioneer leadership of ESDWF for piloting the affairs of the organization since  it's inception and a peaceful transition which has ushered in a new leadership. 

She further expressed confidence in the new administration capacity to deliver while also thanking the women of Eket Senatorial District for coming together to champion the cause of womanhood.

In her remarks, the wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel, thanked the women of Eket Senatorial District for what they have done. She said the primary essence of the forum is to bring women together, support each other and empower them. 

"We are here to celebrate love. I want to encourage all women to show love and make use of what have been given to them. Love is all about touching someone life especially at this Christmas."

She emphasized that the primary essence of ESDWF is to empower the women and ensure that the empowerment is sustainable.

Mrs. Udom further disclosed that one of the ways to sustain the empowerment program for women in Akwa Ibom State is the formation of multi-purpose cooperative which she inaugurated few days ago to give non refundable loans to women, therefore, advised those to be empowered to make good use of what is given to them.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of Eket local government area, Rt. Hon. Akaniyene Tommey, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Political Leader of Eket Senatorial District, Chief Nduese Essien, among others lauded the ingenuity of the women of Eket Senatorial District to come together for the emancipation of the women and their involvement in active politics, advocating for more empowerment programs for the women to be self reliant and the sustainability of the forum. They all lauded the wife of the governor for prioritizing women empowerment programs which has yielded positive results, declaring that 2021 will be better.

Earlier, in her address, the President General of Eket Senatorial District Women Forum, Mrs. Idara Akpan lauded the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel for their inclusion of women in the mainstream politics especially the just concluded local government election where four women were elected as Local Government Chairmen with 19 Vice Chairmen and 96 Councillors which is unprecedented since the creation of Akwa Ibom State. 

"I wish to thank His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel and Wife, Dr. Mrs. Martha Emmanuel for their massive inclusion of women in the just concluded Local Government elections and indeed the entire political structure of the State. The Eket Senatorial District Women Forum is a direct innovation of Her Excellency , Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Emmanuel who has worked assiduously towards the emancipation of women politically, socially, economically and in all spheres of life."

More than 130 women were presented with sewing machines, cash gifts, wrappers and Christmas hampers.

In attendance were wife of the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs. Aniekan Bassey, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Mbobo, Senator Helen Esuene, among others.