The Lumine News

Tag: #Linda Ayade

  • CROWEI/Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation Provides N50,000 Micro Grants For 1,000 Women In Cross River

    CROWEI/Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation Provides N50,000 Micro Grants For 1,000 Women In Cross River

     

    No fewer than 1,000 women active in micro and small businesses have received a grant of N50,000 each from a collaborative scheme of the Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative (CROWEI) and Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation (AEF).

    At the launch of the scheme for 2022 in the commercial city of Ikom, the Wife of Cross River State Governor, Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade, who was full of enthusiasm for the training and support of women in business to boost their productivity commended the Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation for partnering with CROWEI to empower women across the 196 wards of Cross River State.

    She disclosed that “CROWEI will continue to stand firm with women in all their endeavours while calling for more participation of women in leadership/business positions that would grow the local economy”.

    The Founder of the Foundation, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong disclosed at the event that he was motivated to inaugurate the project designed to support 1,000 micro & small business women across the state by the challenges businesses were going through.

    “A wise man taught me that ‘we don’t give because we have enough, we give because we care enough.’ We must find ways to alleviate the suffering of our people. I am convinced that one of the ways to do this is through supporting our women. As primary caregivers in the home, uplifting women will uplift entire families because they extend those resources across the members of the home.

    “In my experience, people do not want to be given fish. They want to be taught how to fish. They want to be given the tools to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

    “Therefore, it is highly imperative that businesses become more sustainable as well as scalable in order to drive growth in the local economy,” he said.

    “At the height of the lockdown in 2020, CROWEI was very instrumental in alleviating the hardship women faced across Cross River State. During the lockdown, Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation also supported the State Government with a donation of N25 million in cash and medical supplies to assist in its welfare interventions.

    “Today, we go a step further. The Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation has trained 1,000 women who are currently engaged in micro & small business on financial management to enable them access loans and grow their businesses. We carefully selected these women who are resident and doing business across the 196 administrative wards of Cross River to ensure that we develop a model case”, he said.

    He noted that at the end of the training programme, the Foundation disbursed N50,000,000 in Micro Grants of N50,000 each to all 1,000 beneficiaries to scale up their working capital.

    He concluded by saying “In all, I am very excited to begin 2022 on this note. Our disbursement partner is Ekondo Microfinance Bank, and it occurred to me that Ekondo is the Efik word for universe. Women make up more than half of our universe. If they don’t prosper, we can’t thrive.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nkoyo Okon from Akparabong Ward but married from Calabar, said the grant would help her to expand and meet up with the demands of the season, especially her yam trading business.

    Another young lady Ms Favour Ushie, from Bekwarra, expressed gratitude to CROWEI and the Foundation for the financial assistance at a time like this. According to her, the Coronavirus has been a big setback to businesses, saying the financial aid was what she needed to relaunch her business.

  • CRU2RWI Celebrates Founder, Dr. Linda Ayade

    CRU2RWI Celebrates Founder, Dr. Linda Ayade

    By Fred Abua

    The Cross River Urban to Rural Women Support Initiative (CRU2RWI) recently paid a courtesy visit on their founder, Dr. Linda Ayade.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dr Linda Ayade thanked the team for coming and for finding her worthy of celebration even when her birthday had passed.

    Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the team, Hon. Agnes Atsu, showered encomiums on the Governor’s wife and founder, Lady Dr. Linda Ayade. The coordinator said that the CRU2RWI mentorship program is the first of its kind and the impact on Cross River Rural women is going to stand the test of time. She also thanked Dr Linda Ayade for the mentorship, guidance, support and encouragement she provides to the team, assuring her that this disposition is fueling the passion the team members to put in their best for the good of their various communities.

    Members of the enlarged Exco of the Cross River Urban To Rural Women initiative (CRU2RWI) which included CROWEI Ambassadors and Chairpersons of Local Government Councils took turns to express their birthday wishes to the Governor’s wife.

    The prayer session was anchored by Pst. Mrs. Rufina Ewah who led the team in thanksgiving to God for His goodness over the life of the governor’s wife, her family the state at large. Prayers were also offered for safety, wisdom, strength and expansion.

    The event ended in merriment with lots of food, laughter and dancing in celebration of the 50th birthday of Dr. Ayade.

    The Cross River Urban to Rural Women Support Initiative (CRU2RWI) recently paid a courtesy visit on their founder, Dr. Linda Ayade.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dr Linda Ayade thanked the team for coming and for finding her worthy of celebration even when her birthday had passed.

    Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the team, Hon. Agnes Atsu, showered encomiums on the Governor’s wife and founder, Lady Dr. Linda Ayade. The coordinator said that the CRU2RWI mentorship program is the first of its kind and the impact on Cross River Rural women is going to stand the test of time. She also thanked Dr Linda Ayade for the mentorship, guidance, support and encouragement she provides to the team, assuring her that this disposition is fueling the passion the team members to put in their best for the good of their various communities.

    Members of the enlarged Exco of the Cross River Urban To Rural Women initiative (CRU2RWI) which included CROWEI Ambassadors and Chairpersons of Local Government Councils took turns to express their birthday wishes to the Governor’s wife.

    The prayer session was anchored by Pst. Mrs. Rufina Ewah who led the team in thanksgiving to God for His goodness over the life of the governor’s wife, her family the state at large. Prayers were also offered for safety, wisdom, strength and expansion.

    The event ended in merriment with lots of food, laughter and dancing in celebration of the 50th birthday of Dr. Ayade.

  • Linda Ayade Flags Off Campaign Against Poliomyelitis, As Cross River Set To Vaccinate Over 900,000 Children Against Poliomyelitis

    Linda Ayade Flags Off Campaign Against Poliomyelitis, As Cross River Set To Vaccinate Over 900,000 Children Against Poliomyelitis

     

    Five years after the deadly strains of Wild Poliomyelitis virus was discovered in Northern Nigeria, government and health partners have seek to put an end to the transmission of the virus across states and nation’s through the introduction of high impact interventions with the latest being the “Outbreak Response Campaign”.

    Flagging off the second round of the Poliomyelitis Outbreak Response Campaign” in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital, wife of the State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade reteriated government’s commitment to eradicating vaccine preventable diseases with emphasis on maternal and child Mortality reduction.

    Dr Ayade said, though the state remains Poliomyelitis free , over 900,000 children will benefit from the exercise which is expected to last for a week in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

    She said, though suspected cases have been recorded in some neighboring states around Cross River, none have been traced to the state , more reason why the government through the
    Primary Healthcare Development Agency is expanding it’s approach to cover all under 5 children.

    “If we don’t take proactive actions, we would have an unfortunate situation in the state that is why we have gathered here today in response to Poliomyelitis Vaccination .We have heard that our neighboring states have encountered this outbreak, but we are always fortunate hence we need to step up and get all children vaccinated”.

    She noted that the best approach to such diseases are effective preparations which includes preventative approaches like vaccination , and most interestingly, the most dependable method in the state. She also encouraged Cross Riverians to take advantage of the ongoing Covid-19 Vaccination, while applauding the DG, CRSPHCDA, Dr Janet Ekpenyong for the wide coverage the state has registered so far in that regards.

    Speaking earlier, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong said, in the last two years, More children have been inoculated against vaccine preventable diseases which in turn has drastically reduced the rate of maternal and child mortality in the state, all thanks to the support and commitment of His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State Sen Prof Ben Ayade and his dear wife, Dr Linda Ayade, who have invested resources in the health sector and also implemented health policies that have strengthened the health system.

    According to Ekpenyong, it’s time for all parents and caregivers to make their children and wards available for vaccination as provision is already made for this high packed intervention to cover over 900,000 children with corresponding number of health workers sent to the field.

    “We are targeting about 900, 000 children in Cross River and with the response we have gotten so far, I am sure we will exceed the target, health workers are in the field already, teams were formed and many of them will be sent to schools, markets, churches and other places of public interest while our fixed points in the facilities will also be”.

    She said “we have decided to implement this high-impact intervention which we hope can reach out to our children within the ages of 0-59 months at no cost bearing in mind the effectiveness of this vaccine ”

    She called on all health workers to cooperate with the government in ensuring that everyone targeted is reached within the designated days .

    In a goodwill message presented by the Director of Public Health Dr Iwara who represented the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu urged community members to help ensure that the state get rid of Poliomyelitis at all cost as the Ministry is committed to prevent and Eradicate all kinds of diseases from the state.

    The Chairman House Committee on health, Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey also reiterated the commitment of the house of Assembly to enact laws that will promote the wellbeing of children in the state.

    The Wife of the speaker of the house of Assembly, Mrs Imaobong Williams, The traditional leader Ntoe Orok Okon, the Secretary of the board, Barr Dan Effiom, representative of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Rotary Club International, AFFENET, MWAN and others commended the government for it’s swift responses in tackling infectious diseases as evidenced in the excellent job done by the DG, CRSPHCDA and her team, as they pledged to continually support such responses.

    Highlight of the event was the vaccination of the children against Poliomyelitis and Covid-19 Vaccination by Her Excellency Dr Linda Ayade. And the pledge from the mothers and caregivers to ensure their children are vaccinated against poliomyelitis.

  • Cross River Stakeholders Holds Town Hall Meeting, Issues Communique To End Cervical Cancer

    Cross River Stakeholders Holds Town Hall Meeting, Issues Communique To End Cervical Cancer

    By Elijah Ugani

    As part of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Global Strategy on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) is organized Town Hall Meetings in their various states to secure the buy-in, consent and readiness of stakeholders for piloting a vaccination programme for girls between the ages of 9 – 14.

    In Cross River State, Her Excellency, Dr. Linda Ayade held a Town Hall Meeting on the 29th November, 2021 at Holy Child Secondary School, Diamond Hill, Calabar with stakeholders drawn from the State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency. Others were Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), pharmaceutical companies and other big organizations interested in carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility, traditional rulers, parents and young girls within the target age group.

    After the 3-hour Town Hall Meeting which held at the Holy Child Secondary School, Calabar, the following resolutions were reached:

    To sustain community focused efforts in improving awareness of HPV and cervical cancer in Cross River State.

    To contribute to the improvement of access to cervical cancer prevention services in the state including vaccination and referrals.

    To expand coverage and support existing interventions to reach more women and girls.

    To provide support for legal issues in women’s health including gender-based violence.

    To support community engagement activities and encourage women participation in cervical cancer prevention intervention.

    Increasing cancer awareness activities in the Mediatrix school-based clubs.

    To become active advocates against cervical cancer and HPV.

  • Full Text Address By Linda Ayade To Mark First Anniversary Launch Of The Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    Full Text Address By Linda Ayade To Mark First Anniversary Launch Of The Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    AN ADDRESS MADE BY THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND FOUNDER OF MEDIATRIX DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, DR. LINDA AYADE, ON THE 29TH OF NOVEMBER, 2021, DURING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER.

    One year ago, the Commissioner for Health and the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency joined the Mediatrix Development Foundation team to celebrate the launch of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer that was adopted and launched by the World Health Organization on the 17th of November 2020.

    The strategy, coded 90-70-90, implies that with this global strategy, the world must work to ensure 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15 years; 70% of women get screened with high performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment.

    Available data shows that 19 out of 20 countries with highest burden of cervical cancer are in Africa. Therefore, implementing the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer is of utmost importance as the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Every day, 41 women residing in Nigeria are diagnosed of cervical cancer most of which occurs at the late stage while another 29 women die each day as a result of cervical cancer complications. It is the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 – 44 years of age.

    About 3.5% of women in Nigeria are estimated to harbour cervical Human Papilloma Virus-16/18 infection at a given time, and 66.9% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16 or 18. Therefore the vaccination of girls against HPV remains the single most effective approach to eliminating cervical cancer as public health issue.

    Unfortunately, due to a global shortage of the HPV vaccine causing lack of access for us in Nigeria, we must take a closer look at our progress in the effort to eliminate cervical cancer and make new commitments while re-strategizing to ensure better access to HPV vaccine, sustainable screening programmes and adequate treatment measures.

    Through my NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation, I will continue to work with the Cross River Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency and other critical stakeholders who are engaged in the fight to end the menace of Cancer in Cross River State.

    I will like to thank my dear sisters, First Ladies Against Cancer, FLAC. This is our team of First Ladies of both serving and past State Governors who are waging a commendable war on all types of cancer in Nigeria. It is our earnest desire to see cervical cancer becoming part of the national discourse among policy makers and receiving appropriate funding. Only when our national programming includes cancer care will we agree that cervical cancer has received the attention it deserves.

    We must all continue to spread the message about HPV Vaccination for every girl and woman. Let us unite with survivors, advocates, communities and partners to mark 1 year of the global effort. Join, be inspired, and #glowteal to eliminate #cervical cancer in your community and beyond.

    Today, we have invited you all in order to secure your buy-in, consent and readiness for piloting a vaccination programme in Holy Child Secondary School for girls of 9 – 14 years of age. Following your consent, we will carry out a pilot phase of vaccination for some of the girls in the next few weeks.

    Dr. Linda Ayade,
    First Lady, CRS
    28th November, 2021

  • Text Of Address By Linda Ayade During The First Anniversary of Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    Text Of Address By Linda Ayade During The First Anniversary of Global Strategy For The Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

    A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND FOUNDER OF MEDIATRIX DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, DR. LINDA AYADE, ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER, 2021, BEING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER.

    One year ago, the Commissioner for Health and the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency joined the Mediatrix Development Foundation team to celebrate the launch of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer that was adopted and launched by the World Health Organization on the 17th of November 2020.

    The strategy, coded 90-70-90, implies that with this global strategy, the world must work to ensure 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15 years; 70% of women get screened with high performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment.

    Available data shows that 19 out of 20 countries with highest burden of cervical cancer are in Africa. Therefore, implementing the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer is of utmost importance as the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Every day, 41 women residing in Nigeria are diagnosed of cervical cancer most of which occurs at the late stage while another 29 women die each day as a result of cervical cancer complications. It is the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 – 44 years of age.

    About 3.5% of women in Nigeria are estimated to harbour cervical Human Papilloma Virus-16/18 infection at a given time, and 66.9% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16 or 18. Therefore the vaccination of girls against HPV remains the single most effective approach to eliminating cervical cancer as public health issue.

    Unfortunately, due to a global shortage of the HPV vaccine causing lack of access for us in Nigeria, we must take a closer look at our progress in the effort to eliminate cervical cancer and make new commitments while re-strategizing to ensure better access to HPV vaccine, sustainable screening programmes and adequate treatment measures.

    Through my NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation, I will continue to work with the Cross River Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency, First Ladies Against Cancer, Pink Africa and other critical stakeholders who are engaged in the fight to end the menace of Cancer in Cross River State. We must all continue to spread the message about HPV Vaccination for every girl and woman.

    Let us unite with survivors, advocates, communities and partners to mark 1 year of the global effort. Join, be inspired, and #glowteal to eliminate #cervical cancer in your community and beyond.

    Dr. Linda Ayade,
    First Lady, CRS
    17th November, 2021

  • Dr Linda Ayade Celebrates The Girl-Child To Mark The International Day Of The Girl-Child 2021

    Dr Linda Ayade Celebrates The Girl-Child To Mark The International Day Of The Girl-Child 2021

    11th of October has been observed worldwide as the International Day of the Girl-Child since 2012 following a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in December, 2011.

    The wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Her Excellency, Dr. Linda Ayade, yesterday celebrated this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Big Qua Town, Calabar with her NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF), a celebration that calls attention to the need to address the challenges faced by girls and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

    This year’s theme “Digital Generation, Our Generation” is meant to draw attention to the gender digital divide in connectivity that exist in this digital age, and to encourage more girls to take a step into the constantly growing world of technology.

    Speaking while addressing the girls at the event, Dr Linda Ayade, said the girl-child is very important that is why the united nation has set aside a whole day every year to celebrate her, and because of the how important the girl-child is to her, that is why her foundation, the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) in conjunction with the Office of Wife of Governor (OWOG) was at Government Secondary School, Big Qua Town to celebrate the girl-child in Cross River State, just to express the love they have for the girl child and as future women. She charged the girls to come up with positive resolutions that will help them grow into great leaders of tomorrow as they are the digital generation that the theme of this year’s celebration is talking about.

    Dr. Ayade said the presentations that were earlier given by the resource persons were to help the girls was to throw light and help guide them to become that important digital girl of tomorrow, nothing less. She discouraged them from joining cults as this constitutes a big distraction that will hinder them from achieving their purpose in life. She said they should drop everything that will hinder them from achieving their purpose in life.

    She encouraged the girls to be free to reach out to her through her MDF in case of any distress they may be passing through, and their problems will be handled with confidentiality. She thanked the students, principal and staff of the school for making it possible for them to be there.

    Earlier in her opening remarks, the principal of the school, Mrs. Arit Ota Onaga expressed her excitement to be celebrating the international day of the girl-child with Her Excellency, Dr. Linda Ayade and her team.

    Mrs. Onaga said the girl-child is never given opportunity in the African society where we belong even though all children are a gift from God. She said every child is a child, but it is what you put into the child that makes that child what he or she will become, using herself as an example, she said she is a girl-child who has grown to become the Principal of GGSS, Big Qua, stressing that girls can become anything in this life. She thanked Dr. Linda Ayade for choosing her school to celebrate the day, and wished all a happy day.

    While giving his address the Chief Operating Officer of MDF, Mr. Jeff Adamade said the day was for the celebration of the girl-child, and that MDF right from inception have been in schools through their school base interventions, and the activity of the day fell under the same intervention.
    Mr. Adamade said MDF has four (4) thematic areas of interventions, which include health, right and justice, education and volunteering and lastly sustainable livelihood. He said the event of the day cuts across all the four thematic areas of MDF because it affects the girl-child; Adamade said they have been in the length and breadth of Cross River State through their school based interventions.

    In Her Excellency’s entourage were the Special Adviser on Finance and Administration, OWOG, Mrs. Phil Inyang, the Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Central, Surv. (Dr.) Gertrude Nanja Njah, the Special Adviser on Event, Owog, Hon. Torita Odey amongst others.

    Highlight of the event were presentations on overcoming obstacle to career development, menstrual hygiene, welcome song by the students of GGSS, drama presentation, presentation of gift items to students and staff, entertainment amongst others

  • Centre For Clinical Care And Clinical Research Confers Child Rights Ambassador On Linda Ayade

    Centre For Clinical Care And Clinical Research Confers Child Rights Ambassador On Linda Ayade

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN), has conferred Child Right Ambassador on the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade, in recognition of her commitment to the welfare and development of children in Cross River State, during the official launch of the Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award (ICHSSA), LOT 1 project, phase 2 cash transfer to 250 project beneficiaries.

    The project is supported by the Cross River State Government and funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Agency for International Development, implemented by CCCRN, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), alongside other local Community-Based Organizations in Cross River state.

    Delivering the keynote address, Dr Linda Ayade thanked CCCRN for the official Launch of the Phase 2 Cash Transfer to 250 beneficiaries worth forty million Naira, and for the opportunity to further dialogue on issues affecting children and how best to provide and sustain the impact on Orphans and Vulnerable Children OVC.

    Ayade maintained that she shares the same plight and commitment through her various projects and initiatives in the state, addressing the needs of children to ensure greater future for them while supporting and advocating for the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, through one of her pet projects, Mediatrix Development Foundation.

    Ayade averred that “I fill fulfilled discussing and sustaining opportunities that will improve the lives of children and other vulnerable population in the state. This can only be achieved, if we work in collaboration with other stakeholders. Let me use this opportunity to call on stakeholders to play their roles, no matter how misunderstood they may be, they should be ready to pay the price, not about just giving money, but to give their time and together they can make a change”

    She acknowledged the commitment of all arms of government, from local government to the state especially the host Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are saddled with the responsibilities of providing partners with strategic direction and coordination in line with the Governor’s agenda.

    She commended the efforts of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for providing funds and support to the Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN) to cater for the needs of vulnerable children and their caregivers in Cross River State.

    Ayade stated that “despite the successes recorded, AIDS-related illnesses are still among the leading causes of infant mortality among children living with HIV. Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes needs to be given priority attention and coverage, including access to early infant diagnosis after birth and during breastfeeding.

    “As a priority, greater investment and commitment is required from Government and stakeholders to ensure optimum care, dignity, and safety of the vulnerable children and their families. Let me call on partners, the public, private and community sectors to support government in the stride to make lives better for children in Cross River State”

    Speaking earlier, the Chief of Party, Dr. Peter Adekoya welcomed participants to the official launch of the second phase of the Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN), Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award (ICHSSA1), LOT 1 project cash transfer to 250 beneficiaries from 15 LGAs in Cross River State, and the launch of the OVC case dialogue.

    Adekoya maintained that, the cash transfer initiative was aimed at cushioning the effect of the economic difficulties faced by the beneficiaries household which has been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic while the OVC cased investment dialogue is to deepen discussion on sustaining the gains of the project in the state.

    He stated that the project’s goal is to ensure that Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) are cared for and protected by their households, communities, local and state governments, to achieve a reduction in their vulnerability to HIV.
    .
    He stated that the the Integrated Child Health and Social Services is a 5-Year Project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS, through the U.S. Agency for International Development USAID, and is to last from December 19, 2019 to December 18, 2024.

    “The project is been implemented by CCCRN in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), alongside other local Community-Based Organizations in Cross River states”, he added.

    On their part, the house Committee Chairman on Health of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr. Ekpe Ekpo Bassey, and the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, took turns to eulogize USAID for the unwavering support to the state government.

    The event was attended by Local Government Chairmen, led by the Chairman of Yakurr LGC, and those of Calabar South, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, and Bakassi LGAs.

    Highlight of the event was the decoration of the wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade, as Child Right Ambassador by the Chief of Party, Dr Peter Adekoya, unveiling of the phase 2 project by Dr Linda Ayade, as well as presentation of success stories and testimonials.

  • Linda Ayade Unveils Training And Empowerment Of 3600 Rural Maidens In Cross River

    Linda Ayade Unveils Training And Empowerment Of 3600 Rural Maidens In Cross River

    By Elijah Ugani

    The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade has today 16th July, 2021 unveiled the training and empowerment of 3600 maidens in Cross River State through the Cross River Urban to Rural Women Mentorship Program.

    The pilot phase which held at Obanliku Local Government Council hall had 200 maidens drawn from the ten wards of Obanliku.

    Declaring the event open, Dr Linda Ayade thanked the Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council for providing the enablement for the pilot phase and used the opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering support of her dear mother, Mrs Mary Akpo who has been the pivot of all her programs and initiatives.

    She averred that “It is not by my power, God gave me this vision and I’m happy today, it is has come to fruition. We are poised to change the narratives of the girl child in Cross River State through the Cross River Urban to Rural Women Mentorship Program”.

    Referring to the maidens, she said, “We deliberately gave you the color you are wearing and as you can see, if any one enters here, you can be identified. It beholds on you to ensure that as you go out, let your lives stand out positively. You have to behave differently, for the fruit of this training needs to be visible in the manner at which you live you lives. There should be a different you from who you were before this training.

    “Obanliku maidens, you are a very special people, that we are starting from you, it is not by accident that you are the pioneer beneficiaries and you must always be at the forefront.

    “As we start from you, you are going to be in front and dishing out instructions to others. If you go down the trauma and challenges the girl child goes through in life, you will weep, but God has given you the strength to come out victorious.

    “Reminiscing on the challenges faced by the girl child, we have put this program for you to assist you realize your dreams. If we continue with the trend that is going on currently, it will be very difficult for you to realize your God given potentials. We want a paradigm shift from thinking that the only thing a woman should do is to give birth. You have to realize that you have enormous potentials to contribute to the development of the society.

    “Please take this opportunity very seriously, you don’t know where it will take you to. The training is to lay the foundation for you, go and explore other ideas that will reform you. We are trying to invest in your future, kindly take it very seriously.

    “By the time our evaluators will come here, we want to have positive reports. The intellect God has given you, you can use it to achieve anything. This is your opportunity, come out, don’t be afraid. We are looking forward to a different Obanliku using you as a contact point”.

    On her part, the State Coordinator of Cross River Urban to Rural Women mentorship program, Hon Agnes Atsu, thanked Dr Linda Ayade for the initiative to mentor the rural women.

    Atsu maintained that “Our joy knows no bounds as you could join us in this program, this shows your commitment to the program”

    She used the opportunity to commend the team that was carefully selected for the program. “We are carrying out the pilot face here in Obanliku, as we progress to other LGAs, we hope to achieve perfections”, she said.

    Speaking further, Atsu noted that “I present to you, the 200 maidens in Obanliku for the mentorship program. We are glad that they are showing serious interest to the mentorship program.

    “We have not recorded any resistance in the course of the training. We assure you that at the end of this training, you are going to have a brand new and reformed maidens in Obanliku.

    “In line with your aspirations which seek to outlive your stay in office, we are going to have a team of monitoring and evaluation officers to ensure that what we are starting here today, will be followed up and sustained”.

    On her part, the Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council, Evang Mrs Margaret Inde, welcomed and thanked the wife of the Governor for choosing Obanliku among other LGAs for the pilot phase of the Cross River Urban to Rural women mentorship program.

    Inde maintained that “The maidens of Obanliku have been very vulnerable to teenage pregnancy, early marriage. Dr Linda Ayade is very passionate about the plight of women. A woman who looks at the child and imagine how she was growing up, and had put together this program for self realization for our maidens, I must commend her.

    “I also suffered the cruelty of the pains of the Obanliku girl child. I only meandered to come out by God’s grace. I never had someone to mentor me”.

    She used the opportunity to reiterate the fact that every Obanliku child needs to be mentored.

    Referring to the wife of the Governor, she said “I want to assure you that for the 200 mentees in Obanliku, they will not disappoint or forget you”.

    In a goodwill message, the Deputy Leader of Obanliku Legislative Council, Hon Raymond Eperypa commended the wife of the the Governor for the program initiated to train 200 youths in Obanliku. He used the opportunity to request the wife of the Governor to continue to think and remember Obanliku as the only thing that distinguished Obanliku is the mountain that surrounds it”.

    Speaking to The Lumine News, the Coordinator of the maidens in Obanliku, Unyour Daniel Ikweng thanked the wife of the Governor for finding them worthy of the training and empowerment and pledged the commitment of other maidens to sustaining the gains of the program.

    The Cross River Urban to Rural women mentorship program was recently launched by the wife of the Governor, Dr Linda Ayade with the view to identify, train, empower and mentor 200 rural women in each of the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Various training topics were put together for the maidens including agribusiness, business plan, marketing strategies and business opportunities.

    According to the Secretary to the Committee, Mr Fred Abua, the training will be held in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

  • Build Your Marriage Foundation All Round God And Enjoy The Marriage, Linda Ayade Tells Couple

    Build Your Marriage Foundation All Round God And Enjoy The Marriage, Linda Ayade Tells Couple

    The wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade, has congratulated Mr & Mrs Chisom Victor, whose marriage was solemnized yesterday, 26th June, 2021 at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ikot Ansa.

    Speaking at the wedding reception after presenting a car gift on behalf of herself and family to the couple, the Governor’s wife enjoined the couple to build their marriage foundation around God in order to enjoy the marriage.

    The wedding which was attended by the Governor, His Excellency, Sen (Prof.) Ben Ayade, was officiated by Rev. Fr. Cletus Udoh and Rev. Fr. John Awoke.

    Fr. Awoke took his sermon from the Gospel of Mark 10 vs 9, where Jesus said “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” and centred his message on love from the man and respect from the woman.

    In an interview, Dr. Linda advised the couple to always go to God before they take any major decision, even during disagreements.

    She urged them to learn to solve their problems without involving third parties but God. She concluded by saying “I want to tell them that if they build their marriage foundation all around God they’ll enjoy the marriage.”

    Highlights of the event were marital vows, cutting of cake, nuptial dance, entertainment, refreshments, and presentation of gifts, amongst others.