Abuja, Nigeria – Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, four Cross River women, Ntunkae Offiong Ani Offiong, Mrs Caroline Asikpo-Edet, Dr Yibala Akpama Edimek, and Mrs Blessing Ayuk Ojong Tangban are among distinguished Nigerian women who made the sterling list of “Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women”, 2025 edition.
This was disclosed in a statement in Abuja by the editors of the compendium, Kammonke Abam, Tammie Edet-Kammonke, and Steve Ogah.
The annual biographical compendium which is jointly published by Gender Perspectives in Development, a gender-focused NGO; and Profiles & Biographies, Nigeria’s leading biographical compendium consultancy firm, serves as Nigeria’s most qualitative compendium that profiles outstanding women across different frontiers and include innovators, barrier-breakers, activists, top bureaucrats, captains of industry, and celebrities.
The compendium is usually unveiled on March 8 as part of the activities to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).
The theme of IWD 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’, spotlighting the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
Ntunkae Offiong is listed in acknowledgement of her outstanding career success, rising to the pinnacle of her civil service career as Permanent Secretary, a position she is using to initiate reforms in the Ministry of Information to which she is posted. She is also the Chairman of the Cross River State Policy on Information Implementation Committee.
Caroline Asikpo-Edet is listed for her exceptional diligence, integrity, accountability, and a citizen-centred approach to her duties that has earned her the distinguished appointment of Permanent Secretary in Cross River State
Mrs Asikpo-Edet had also served as Desk Officer for several donor-assisted Programmes such as FGN/IFAD/NDDC/Community-based Natural Resources Management Programme in the Niger Delta States, contributing to Cross River State winning the best state Award amongst the Nine Niger Delta States.
Dr Yibala Akpama Edimek is a distinguished medical consultant who stands as a paragon of dedication, innovation, and transformative leadership in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
A highly skilled Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing maternal and reproductive health in Nigeria and beyond.
This is coming on the heels of her recent extraordinary milestone of being honoured with the Professor Bello Osagie Prize for the Overall Best Candidate at the West African College of Surgeons Fellowship Exams in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Mrs Blessing Ayuk Ojong Tangban is listed in acknowledgment of her immense accomplishments including being the Co-founder of Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State.
A seasoned educationist, Mrs Tangban is also the Proprietor of Steadyflow School, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja.
She is a published author. Her book, written in 2016, is titled, “Memoirs of an African village girl”.