From Isaac Job, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Government has said that it would continue to support the vulnerable through humanitarian services as one of the focal points in the ARISE Agenda in the state.
Speaking during the unveiling of the EL ZAIN Women, Children and Peace Initiative at IBOM LED, Uyo, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, said the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has shown commitment to the welfare of citizens by institutionalising a humanitarian governance model through the ARISE Agenda.
According to her, this places the welfare of the people, particularly the vulnerable and disadvantaged, at the centre of governance.
“This commitment is reflected in the various interventions of the State Government aimed at addressing food insecurity, supporting vulnerable households, providing homes for disadvantaged families, empowering women and young people, supporting elderly citizens, promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and responding to emergencies and disasters.”
“Creating a standalone Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs further demonstrates Umo Eno’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian interventions are properly coordinated, social protection is strengthened, and vulnerable individuals and families receive organised and responsive support.”
Ibanga, while commending the group for their contributions to humanitarian services, encouraged them to sustain the relationship and charged them to always align its programmes.
“I am pleased that the El Zain Women, Children and Peace Development Initiative has registered with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
“I encourage its leadership to sustain this relationship and align its programmes with the State’s humanitarian priorities and coordination framework.”
The chairman on the occasion, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, appreciated the husband of the founder of EL ZAIN for the massive support he has given to the wife, stressing that this is actually a demonstration of the group’s slogan, “love in action”.
Usoro listed the vision of the group to include creating a world where every woman stands tall, every child dreams big and every community resolves its conflicts with empathy and wisdom.
He therefore called on Nigerians to support the initiative through their prayers and material support, adding that humanitarian service is a collective effort.
Responding, the founder of the EL ZAIN initiative, Dr Mrs Zeinab Akpan, expressed her excitement at the launch of the project, which she described as the dawn of a new beginning.
She recalled that the project was conceived through years of discussions with the less privileged, supporting the vulnerable, listening and giving genuine guidance, which went a long way in restoring hope to the hopeless.
Zeinab explained that the vision was further boosted by her experience as the Acting President of the Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), which ignited a fire of humanity in her.
“This vision will be achieved through innovative programmes, empowering women, nurturing children, building lasting peace, fostering self-reliance, education and dialogue.”
“The EL ZAIN initiative is associated with the Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research (IPPDR), New York, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality, education and peace.”
Zeinab explained that their humanitarian outreach in the past two weeks had the opportunity to put principles into practice by implementing micro-business grants where 20 women emerged after a selective process.
Others include health care interventions and hospital debt support, education programmes, where awards were given, child care support, among other things, across different local government areas in the state.
She described the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, as the foremost humanitarian in the state and expressed her gratitude to him for making the state so peaceful.
The highlights of the event were the presentation of cheques as entrepreneurial support to market women, presentation of gifts and cash to widows of fallen heroes, presentation of plaques to dignitaries, cutting of birthday cake, drama and dance presentations.
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