53,987 Benefit From Late Akwa Ibom First Lady’s Pet Project

Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the pet project of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Patience Umo Eno, has impacted 53,987 lives in state in last two years, its Board of Trustees chairman and coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has stated.

Speaking during the GIFA’s second anniversary celebration and posthumous birthday of its founder, Pastor Patience Eno, at the Ibom Hall Ground, Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, Lady Obareki described the milestone as a demonstration of steady growth across GIFA’s eight thematic areas.

“I can confidently state that we have recorded remarkable strides in all the eight thematic areas of the programme, including maternal and child healthcare, enhancing literacy and learning, Improving environmental health, women empowerment, fight against diseases, care for the elderly, care for persons with disabilities and gender-based violence prevention and response,” she recalled.

According to Lady Obareki, 9776 mothers and children were reached through healthcare interventions; 19,587 adults and pupils were impacted under the literacy and learning programmes; 13 borehole projects were provided in rural communities; 5,064 women were economically empowered; 4,900 rural women and men and children treated through medical outreaches; 10,800 senior citizens supported; 160 persons with disabilities assisted; and 1,020 GBV survivors rehabilitated.

She disclosed plans by GIFA to “launch an intensive, year-round Tech-Empowerment Accelerator where every year, 500 Akwa Ibom women will be equipped with market-ready, hands-on expertise in Software Development, Data Analytics, and Digital Innovation. We will provide high-level mentorship and employment-ready internships, grooming women who will become the primary architects of Akwa Ibom’s burgeoning digital economy.”

While eulogising her mother, Pastor Patience Umo Eno for birthing GIFA in the interest of families and vulnerable persons, Lady Helen Obareki, who appreciated Governor Umo Eno for his support, spoke of plans to replicate the GIFA Adult Education Initiative in all the Local Government Areas, together with the Back to School Programme for indigent pupils in public schools.

In his remarks at the event, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, praised Lady Helen Obareki, for her dedication and exceptional leadership in advancing her mother’s vision, saying, “I am pleased to note that this initiative is fulfilling the foundational ideals and objectives set forth at its inception. You have remained committed to implementing the eight thematic areas, as evidenced by the statistics and impacts you have shared.”

Pastor Eno announced that in honour of his wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, the State Government would partner with GIFA to provide water in all the 369 wards in the state, directing the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, AKRUWATSAN, to ensure that every ward in the state will benefit from the the “Water-of-Life” project, within the next year.

Speaking on behalf of the Governors’ Wives Forum, the wife of the Abia State governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, commended Lady Helen Obareki for the impactful achievements of the initiative and promised support and collaboration where necessary to achieve even more.

In her remarks, the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, congratulated GIFA for its meaningful projects and programmes and expressed gratitude to Governor Eno for his gender-friendly policies, assuring that women will continue to support his administration beyond 2027.

Senator Effiong Bob eulogised the legacies of the departed initiator of GIFA, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, and the good works of GIFA, and assured of continuous support for more impact.

Delivering her keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of The Discovery Center/Founding Partner & Executive Director, of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, Ambassador Mfon Ekpo in her insightful presentation called on Akwa Ibom people to embrace their God-given identity of hospitality, trustworthiness, and unity to work collectively towards addressing the needs of the vulnerable and advancing development in the state.