Akwa Ibom Gov Eno Receives UN Women ‘He-for-She’ Ambassador Title

SATURDAY February 22, 2025 | TheNewsDESK

The United Nations, UN, has commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for promoting and initiating pro-women policies in the state, ThePUNCH reports.

The United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs Beatrice Eyong, made the commendation during the first-anniversary celebration of the Golden Initiative For All, the pet project of the late first lady, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, held in Uyo on Thursday.

She bestowed the UN’s highest women title, ‘He-for-She Ambassador’ on the governor for his role in promoting women’s inclusion in governance

Eyong paid tribute to the progenitor of GIFA, Patience, and commended the Coordinator of the office of the First Lady, Mrs Helen Obareki, for holding the vision to sustain the legacy of her late mother.

“The award on the governor was based on his remarkable inclusion of women in governance and promoting pro-womem issues in the state,” she said

Eyong disclosed that GIFA’s eight thematic aspirations align with the vision of the UN Women Office which was created to “support member states in mitigating gender-based discrimination and its attendant consequences, as well as expanding opportunities for women.”

Eno lauded the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, his daughter Helen, for furthering the vision and aspirations of his departed wife through GIFA

Eno expressed delight with the ingenuity of Helen in driving her mother’s dream of enhancing family life and bringing succour to the less privileged to reality, despite the demise of its founder and progenitor.

He said the event also created an opportunity to honour her memory and celebrate the first posthumous birthday of the departed First Lady, whose 57th birthday marked the launch of GIFA.

“Let me congratulate my dear daughter, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Noble Lady Helen Obareki for stepping up and taking charge of this great initiative.

“As you have so eloquently reeled out the achievements recorded in the last one year, it is evident that you have ticked the boxes in all the thematic areas and the impact has been deeply felt. Noble Lady, you have done well, and your mother and indeed all of us here are manifestly proud of you,” Eno said

He also recalled her persistent appeals for 40 per cent inclusion of women in the affairs of government, adding that most of the women who have been appointed to public offices are credited to the intervention of the late First Lady.

In her address, Helen appreciated the governor’s support for the initiative and accorded him the honour of “Pillar of GIFA” which, she noted, embodied her departed mother’s vision and passion for uplifting the lives of women, children, the elderly and the vulnerable people in society.

She listed the achievements of GIFA to include school supplies for over 15,000 pupils, free healthcare for women in rural communities, and economic empowerment of over 5000 women, affirming that the impact of the initiative has been felt tremendously across the state.

She, therefore, pledged her commitment to building on the legacies of the departed First Lady by continually enhancing the quality of life of vulnerable individuals and families, supporting multiple birth children, engaging zero earners with skills, and empowering more women in the state