The Wife of the Cross River Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, on Saturday, distributed 15,712 empowerment items to women and youths across 11 Local Government Areas in Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of the state.
The humanity tour and empowerment programme, which ended on Saturday in Ikom, was organised through the Office of the Wife of the Governor under the Humanity Without Borders (HUWIB) initiative.
The items comprised 8,183 units for the Central Senatorial District and 7,529 units for the Northern Senatorial District.
According to Otu, the programme was meant to promote grassroots development, entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, and improved livelihoods.
She said the initiative sought to strengthen household economies, promote agricultural productivity, and create sustainable opportunities for women, youths, and vulnerable groups.
Before the empowerment ceremony, she engaged traditional rulers in the two districts to acknowledge their support, brief them on the programme, and discuss plans for the continued empowerment of women.
She also held consultations with other stakeholders on strategies to sustain the initiative and expand opportunities for women in the state.
Addressing the beneficiaries and community stakeholders, the governor’s wife said the programme was driven by compassion and a commitment to service rather than a desire for public recognition.
“I don’t do this to show off, neither do I do it because I have too much. “I do this because I believe in the power of love, compassion and service to humanity,” she said.
Otu further said the initiative reflected the governor’s ‘People First’ philosophy, adding that empowering women would strengthen families and communities.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a family; when you empower a woman, you empower a community,” she said.
Otu urged the beneficiaries to utilise the items responsibly to grow their businesses, support their families and achieve financial independence.
The empowerment items included 17 minibuses, 11 tricycles, 33 motorcycles, 55 sewing machines, 50 grinding machines, nine cassava-processing machines, 22 baking ovens, 110 Point-of-Sale machines, 80 large umbrellas and five refrigerators.
Other vocational equipment included 55 barbing clippers, 55 hair-washing units, 55 hair dryers, 110 generators, 10 makeup kits and 198 aprons.
To support agriculture and household food security, the programme provided 3,200 bags of fertiliser, and 22 packs of fingerlings.
Other items consisted of 6,622 bags of rice, 1,248 bags of beans, 700 cartons of tomatoes, cooking oil and seasoning, as well as 300 bags of salt.
The intervention also included 1,100 wrappers, educational materials, such as exercise books, Bibles and English textbooks, seven wheelchairs, four crutches and mother-and-child care kits.
The governor’s wife said her engagements with the different stakeholders were designed to strengthen community participation and promote inclusive development.
