First Ladies Launch Women Forum, Back Tinubu, Otu’s Second Term Bids

The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the wife of the Cross River State governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, yesterday launched the Cross River State Market Women Forum in Calabar.

They described it as a transformative platform for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of women traders across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The event also featured the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu, for their second term bids, with market women pledging support for their administrations’ development agenda.

In a goodwill message presented by the wife of the Cross River State governor on behalf of President Tinubu ‘s wife, she lauded the initiative as an worthy effort to empower grassroots women, promote inclusive economic development.

Otu’s wife praised Tinubu’s wife for  the initiative stressing that the initiative  aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

That agenda prioritises women’s economic participation through access to opportunities, skills acquisition, finance and social support.

“I am particularly encouraged that this forum seeks to unite market women under a common vision of progress, cooperation and empowerment.

“When women are supported to succeed in business, families are strengthened, communities become more resilient and the foundations of sustainable development are reinforced,”she stated.

The Mrs Otu hailed  members of the newly inaugurated forum and reaffirmed her commitment to initiatives that would uplift Nigerian women, while the message jointly endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Otu for another term citing their developmental strides.

The wife of the speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Mrs Nelly Ayambe, called the forum her brainchild, describing the market women forum as a movement of hope, unity and prosperity through strategic interventions and capacity building.