To commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Gender Mainstreaming, Ms. Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke, in collaboration with UN Women and the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, hosted an enlightening event at the Obong’s Palace.
On October 22nd, the palace welcomed guests from various sectors, including the military, paramilitary, tech experts, and political leaders, to celebrate and uplift the girl child. The event aimed to inspire and educate girls, fostering their vision for a future where they can thrive and lead.
In her opening remarks, Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke expressed her joy at welcoming attendees to the celebration, emphasizing the importance of the day’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future.” She highlighted the limitless potential of every girl child and stressed the need for a future where girls, regardless of their circumstances, are empowered to excel in all areas of life.
UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to co-host the event. She underscored the significance of girls stepping up as leaders, drawing inspiration from the female leaders present. She encouraged mothers and women leaders to view every girl as a potential leader.
Reverend Eyoanwan Otu, wife of the Governor of Cross River State, represented by the Special Adviser on Gender Mainstreaming, Dr. Inyang Asibong, commended the Obong of Calabar, UN Women, and the organizers for the initiative. She highlighted the efforts of Her Excellency in advancing the girl child’s development in the state. Dr. Asibong also noted that more than 8,000 girls in Cross River State have benefitted from the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program, which continues to target secondary school girls.
The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, praised the efforts of UN Women and the Gender Mainstreaming team for organizing the event. He condemned harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and all forms of violence against girls. The Obong called for the protection of girls at all costs and envisioned a future where girls would take up leadership roles in boardrooms and communities. He also pledged to extend educational initiatives to other communities in the state, reaffirming his commitment to the girl child’s development.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including the Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, the wife of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, representatives from the military and paramilitary forces, secondary school principals, the Obong’s council of chiefs, students, NGOs, and members of the media.
