C'River First Lady Seeks Partnership with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Education, Social Welfare

... Calls for Establishment of BYU in C'River 

By Our Reporter 

The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev Mrs Eyoawan Otu has expressed her readiness to partner with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in addressing the Education and Social Welfare needs of the citizens.

Rev Otu made the pledge when members of the Church paid her a courtesy visit in her Office in Calabar.

Mrs Otu revealed that her pet projects are tailored towards providing humanitarian and welfare programmes for the needy and less privileged with a view of touching lives and changing stories, hence her readiness for a robust synergy with groups or organisations with similar vision or passion.

According to her, "We would seek further areas of collaboration with the Church once we are informed of the Church programmes, especially those initiated to equip our youths with basic vocational skills to promote self-reliance and job creation".

The First Lady explained that the Otu-led administration was poised to address the imbalance in the society through deliberate efforts aimed at providing succour to the deprived and destitute.

The governor's wife tasked the church to optimize the information dissemination system to get the public duly acquainted with the various programmes hosted by the Church to guarantee optimum participation, support and attainment of set objectives.

While commending the setting up of Brigham Young University online program, BYU Pathway Worldwide, the first lady called on the church authority to replicate the initiative in Cross River state to ensure the provision of world-class education at an affordable cost to the citizenry.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the team and Calabar North Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Akwaowo Joseph congratulated her excellency for their victory at the Supreme Court and thanked her for attending the Pathway Worldwide graduation ceremony held last November.

President Akwaowo commended the state government for pragmatic and visionary leadership stating that "this has ushered in positive developments and progress in the land for which Cross Riverians are most grateful for."

Akwaowo disclosed that the Church was interested in the spiritual and physical growth of young people and has used education as a major tool to fight poverty, crime and illiteracy in the society.

He said the Seminary and the Succeed in School programmes have been initiated for the junior and senior secondary pupils to fulfil the church vision in that area.

Pointing to Succeed in The school programme, now a pilot scheme and open to members and non-members, President Akwaowo said the programme is geared towards addressing deficiencies in the core subjects of Mathematics, English language, and life skills.

President Alex and President Ukoha emphasized the importance of the seminary and institute program in achieving a balanced preparation to return to our Heavenly Father. They stated that these initiatives are open to both members and the general public.

In his remarks, President Christian Onovughe, the Welfare and Self-reliance Manager, Uyo Coordinating Council, said the Church had projects in Cross River state and Akwa Ibom and had recently donated wheel Chairs to General Hospital Akamkpa, provided child support and screening in areas of diet and nutrition.

Onovughe said that in the area of education, the church has provided grants to support undergraduates undertaking courses in Agriculture and noted that the grant was available only to members of the Church at the moment.

He informed The First Lady of the proposed medical outreach slated for Calabar and appealed to her to honour an invite to the ceremony when it was eventually held.

Also speaking, Bishop Castro Ezama, a former Special Adviser to the governor on Education and Bishop of Essien Town Ward of the Church, thanked the First Lady for the opportunity to meet with her and for the huge humanitarian efforts she is making across the State and prayed God to strengthen and protect her.