A’Ibom First Lady Designate Promises To Keep GIFA Flag Flying

By Uduak Etukudo
UYO
In her determination to keep the dreams of the founder of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) alive, the Akwa Ibom first lady designate and coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom has promised to build on the foundation laid by her late mother, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.
Mrs Helen Eno Obareki made the promise, Thursday, February 20, 2025 when GIFA marked its one year anniversary at Ibom Hall, IBB Way, Uyo.
Obareki, who intimated that the initiative is an embodiment of the late first lady’s vision and passion for uplifting children, women, the elderly and the vulnerable populace in Akwa Ibom, maintained that her mandate was to ensure that she impacts lives by enhancing quality living among families in the state.
The coordinator of the Office of the First Lady noted that GIFA has improved the well-being of the vulnerable as well as inspired a sense of rural and communal responsibility.
She listed significant strides recorded by the pet project in one year to include the provision of educational materials to over 15,000 pupils across the state; access to free health care by rural communities through GIFA Wheels of Hope programme.
Other strides included economic empowerment of over 5,000 women through Eka Iberedem Hub programme to make them self-reliant as well as adult education programme where participants are drawn from diverse localities in the State with the aim of helping them to read and write so as to interact with other people in their day-to-day activities.
Her words, “Another success story is GIFA Adult Education Initiative where we have brought together men and women from all the local government areas who are learning how to write their names and basic information needed in their daily interactions”.
Obareki also mentioned a cassava and palm oil processing mill donated to a middle aged father of six from Mbiabong Ikot Udo in Ini Local Government Area, Mr Benjamin Asuquo Umoren, whose life was so unbearable but has since bounced back after the empowerment.
The first lady designate reiterated that her mandate was to build on the legacies laid by her late mother, and assured of continued support to multiple birth children and empowerment of more women with skills through the women empowerment programme of GIFA.
  “My mandate as the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady is simply to build upon the legacies of our dear mother, Pastor Patience Umo Eno. This, we have done, and we will continue to do”, she stated.
She promised to link up the women with Eka Iberedem Hub, a full cycle initiative that would help them to identify what they can produce and how much the market is willing to pay for the products, adding that such commodities would soon be displayed on the shelves of different malls and supermarkets in the State.
Obareki thanked her father and State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his support and encouragement, describing him as the pillar of GIFA; and also appreciated the keynote speaker, who is the United Nations (UN) Women representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong; as well as donour agencies and well-meaning individuals for their partnerships.
She sued for more support as, according to her, though there is a tremendous impact in the State, much still needs to be done to cater for the citizenry.
The anniversary featured presentation of keynote address, performances by different cultural troupes from the State Centre for Arts and Culture; a popular gospel music artiste, Mrs Aity Dennis Inyang; and theme song by John Bassey.
Other features included goodwill messages from the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Mr Unyime Idem; Akwa Ibom State chief judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, represented by the chief registrar, Mrs Affiong Usimkah; secretary to the state government, Prince Enobong Uwah; the Oku Ibom Ibibio and president-general, Akwa Ibom Supreme Council, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, among others, who all commended the first lady designate for the great work she is doing to write her mother’s name in gold and promised to give her needed support to continue touching more lives in the State.
The event was well attended by the cream de la cream of the society, among them the immediate past deputy governor of the State, Mr Moses Ekpo; member for Etinan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Obong Paul Ekpo; political leader for Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob and wife, Comfort; and the State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Elder Aniekan Akpan.
Others were the wife of former military governor, Mrs. Funmi Idongesit Nkanga; wife of the first elected deputy governorof the State, Mrs Atim Okpoyo; secretary, Akwa Ibom Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Emem Ette, Esq; former vice chancellor, University of Uyo, Professor Enefiok Essien; and chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Akwa Ibom State, Bishop Chris Nyong.
High point of the event was cutting of the anniversary cake by the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno; flanked by the first lady designate, Mrs. Helen Obareki and spouse, Mr. Obareki; representative of the state chief judge, Oku Ibom Ibibio and wife, Akwa Obonganwan Philomena Etuk; along with other dignitaries.