By Magnus Effiong
After about eights years of inactivity, the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has finally elected executive committee to pilot its affairs with the wife of Governor Bassey Otu, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu emerging as Patron.
Speaking after the elections of the committee members which took place at the Women Development Centre, Calabar, weekend, the President, NCWS, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau expressed confidence in the new State leadership and urged Mrs Otu to reactivate the NCWS across the 18 local government areas of the state.
“We acknowledge and celebrate your remarkable achievements through your pet projects – the Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative. This initiative covers humanitarian services across various sectors.
“Your deep concern for children, women and people with disability is highly recommended. We believe that you shall, with this same zeal, do everything within your powers to reposition the NCWS,” she told the Governor’s wife.
Also speaking, the new State Patron, Rev Otu said her investiture as the Patron of State chapter of the NCWS was a call to more service in her determination to advance women’s empowerment and build a just and equitable society.
Rev Otu noted that the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) mission aligns closely with her vision for women in Cross River State, and lauded the Council for their work in advocating gender equality and women empowerment.
In a welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edema Irom reminded members that the NCWS remained the oldest women movement in Nigeria that gave birth to the Ministry of Women Affairs at the national and the state level.
She told the women present to note that irrespective of whatever organizations they belong to, they were members of NCWS, urging the elected executive members to see their positions as tools for service and not to intimidate others.
In an interview, the newly inaugurated president of the NCWS in the State, Rt Hon Majorie Asuquo, said the new State Executive of the body was determined to take the NCWS to another level particularly with the guidance of the State Patron, Rev Otu.
“It is a privilege to serve and we in the exco are determined to take NCSW to another height in Cross River State. We thank our loving mother, Rev Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, for resuscitating NCWS which for the past 7 years was like death. As a new Patron of the NCWS, things will continue to blossom for women in Cross River state,” she stated.
