From JOE EFFIONG, Uyo
The wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, is generally called the “Mother Theresa of our time.” Even her husband introduces her as such at official functions.
One of the widow receiving her gift from Her Excellency, Mrs. Akpabio
The title may be a little too ambitious if not exaggeration, but in Nigeria, one needs to blow own trumpet. And if Akpabio is blowing the trumpet of the wife, then it is not too far-fetched. The wife may not be the renowned and the late Mother Theresa yet, but she is trying. What the ambitious Family Life Enhancement Initiative which the governor’s wife is, providing accommodation and other forms of succor to the widows and other less-privileged .
So far, she has provided 31 widows and homeless persons with a two bedroom bungalow each by her Family Life Enhancement Initiative, and five of the houses built under the Shelter Support Programme of the pet project which were recently inaugurated by Mrs Akpabio for Miss Offiong Bassey, a treated homeless leper in Udung Adatang, Udung Uko local government area; Miss Iquo Enyiekung, a widow and mother of four in Uya Oron, oron local government area and Mrs. Joana Victor Bright, a 33-year old widow and mother with four children in Okorotte, Eastern Obolo local government area...
Others who also benefitted from the programme are Mrs. Atim Akpan Ekong, a widow with eight children in Obotme, Ini local government area and Mrs. Iquo Sunday Udo, a widow and mother of eight children in Afia Nsit Attai, Nsit Ubium local government area...
Mrs Akpabio said during the formal opening of the houses that providing the roof over the heads of the widows and other homeless persons was done out of her interest to lessen the burden of homeless persons in the State.
Mrs. Akpabio stated at the inauguration ceremonies, “Now that the problem of lack of decent accommodation has been solved for the beneficiaries, they have one thing less to worry about and can deploy their resources to other beneficial purposes for themselves and their families”.
She also used the opportunity of the commissioning of the houses to challenge mothers state to expose their children who may be involved in kidnapping and other crimes to acquire wealth. She said that there was no where a mother would worship a child who is a kidnapper, simply because they bring gifts acquired through illegal activities, and expects such a child to refrain from criminal acts.
Mrs. Akpabio also called on parents to take advantage of the free education policy of the state government to send their children to school and be prepared to register when the voters’ registration exercise would commences.
“Make sure your children go to schoo. Education can make them to shun thuggery, violence and kidnapping. Mothers open your mouths and talk to your children to shun crime. Reject suspicious gifts from your children so that those involved in kidnapping can stop. Even though they are your children, you have to discreetly report them to the Police”, Mrs Akpabio admonished.
The beneficiaries of the Shelter Support Programme of Mrs. Akpabio showed overwhelming emotions of joy and gratefulness for the gift of the houses. In particular, Miss Offiong Bassey, the former Leprosy Patient who was stranded at the Leprosy Hospital , Ekpene Obom in Etinan because she did not have home to go to after her treatment, praised Mrs. Akpabio highly for coming to her rescue with the two bedroom bungalow, calling her a friend, mother and anchor in her life. Miss Bassey also commended a councilor in Udung Uko Local Government Council, Mr. Etim Effiong Okon for donating the land in which the house is located after her blood relations had refused her space for the project.
The inauguration exercise drew comments from Government officials and other personalities who hail from localities where the houses were built for the widows, with Chief (Mrs.) Grace Anwana, Akwa Ibom State Head of Civil Service, speaking in Oron; Mrs. Eunice Thomas, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, in Okoroette; Chief Bassey Inuaeyen, a politician, in Obotme and Mr. Onofiok Luke, Speaker National Youth Parliament, in Afia Nsit Attai, all extolling the motherly concern of Mrs. Akpabio to build the houses.
