C’River Seeks Stronger Partnership as Ono Foundation Berths in Calabar
By Ekanem ASUQUO
The Cross River state government has expressed readiness to partner with stakeholders in the gender-based violence response system to support initiatives aimed at eliminating harmful practices and other forms of discrimination affecting women and girls in the state.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, made the commitment at a conference organised by the Olayinka Nicole Odewunmi Foundation to launch the “Here to Help Project” as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebration in Calabar.
Irom, who was represented at the event by Deputy Director in the ministry, Martina Odey, described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening support structures for women and enhancing their empowerment and development. She noted that the conference signalled the beginning of the foundation’s intervention in Cross River State and stressed that International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to renew commitments toward protecting the rights and welfare of women and girls.
The commissioner commended the leadership of the foundation for choosing Cross River State as the starting point of the programme and encouraged women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and young women to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute ideas that would advance the cause of women in the state. She also reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Women Affairs to collaborate with civil society organisations and development partners to create an enabling environment where women and girls can thrive.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the State Coordinator of the Ono Foundation, Gift Oghale, said the organisation was created to support vulnerable women, children, and the girl child in realising their aspirations. She explained that the foundation was inspired by the humanitarian vision of the late development advocate, Miss Nicole Odewunmi whose family decided to sustain the initiative after her death.
Oghale disclosed that the foundation has been operating for over two years, with most of its activities initially concentrated in Lagos State before expanding to other parts of the country. She said the International Women’s Day celebration provided the platform for the organisation to introduce its programmes in Cross River State in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and other partners.
According to her, the “Here to Help Project” seeks to empower women both financially and mentally through capacity building and awareness programmes designed to help them recognise their value and potential in society. She added that engagements with women during the programme have provided insights into the challenges they face, reinforcing the foundation’s determination to support their resilience and help them overcome cultural barriers.
Delivering a paper titled Personal Development and Growth as a Nigerian Woman, resource person Mrs Ndifreke Ita urged women to deliberately invest in self development through education, skill acquisition, and exposure to innovative ideas in order to become productive contributors to society.
Participants at the conference commended the initiative and called for more regular programmes that would promote the empowerment and advancement of women and girls across Cross River State.
