A delegation from the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), led by Director-General Great Ogban, recently met with the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edama Irom, to harmonize plans for the upcoming International Women’s Day celebration in the state. The visit also served to highlight MEDA’s ongoing programs aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs.
Ogban briefed the Commissioner on several MEDA initiatives, including the Women in Neighborhood Enterprise Development (WONEED) program. WONEED is designed to provide comprehensive support to women-owned small businesses across the State. The program will initially focus on Calabar South and Calabar Municipality as pilot local government areas.
Commissioner, Hon. Edama Irom expressed strong support for the WONEED initiative, emphasizing the crucial role women play in nation-building through economic empowerment. She noted that the state has a range of activities planned for the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration and stressed the importance of collaboration between MEDA and the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure the overall success of these events.
Nissi Ibiang, Lead Corporate Affairs and WONEED Coordinator, explained that the program is a key component of MEDA’s broader entrepreneurship strategy, which aims to boost Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development throughout the State. This strategy aligns with the current administration’s focus on economic growth and empowerment at all levels.
