Gov Eno Pledges To Sustain Late Wife’s Legacies Beyond Tenure

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has promised to continue the legacies of his late wife, Pastor Patience Eno, particularly her efforts to improve the lives of less-privileged children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. The Governor emphasized that these efforts would be sustained beyond his tenure.

Governor Eno also praised his daughter, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, who has taken on the role of Acting First Lady and Coordinator of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the organization founded by her late mother. Lady Obareki has continued her mother’s vision of enhancing family life and providing support to the disadvantaged, which led to the establishment of the permanent secretariat of GIFA at Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo, the state capital.

Speaking at the first anniversary of GIFA in Uyo, Governor Eno expressed his pride in Lady Obareki’s leadership, noting the significant impact the initiative had made in its first year. He also celebrated the first posthumous birthday of the late First Lady, whose 57th birthday had coincided with the launch of GIFA in 2024.

“Let me congratulate my dear daughter, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Noble Lady Helen Obareki, for stepping up and taking charge of this great Initiative. As you have so eloquently stated, it is clear that the impact has been deeply felt,” he said.

Reflecting on his late wife’s compassion and selflessness, the Governor reiterated that his administration would continue to promote her values through initiatives like the ARISE Elderly Care Initiative, ARISE Compassionate Homes, and by addressing issues of maternal care and gender-based violence. He also highlighted the late First Lady’s advocacy for increased women’s inclusion in governance, noting that many of the women appointed to public office had benefited from her efforts.

Lady Helen Obareki, in her address, thanked the Governor for his support of the initiative and expressed her commitment to fulfilling her late mother’s vision. She outlined GIFA’s focus on aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to better the lives of vulnerable families in the state.

The United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, also paid tribute to the late Pastor Eno and praised Lady Obareki for carrying on her mother’s work. Eyong commended GIFA’s alignment with the UN Women Office’s mission to reduce gender-based discrimination and expand opportunities for women. She further pledged the UN’s support for the initiative.

Eyong also recognized Governor Eno’s remarkable inclusion of women in his administration, reinforcing the impact of such efforts on the broader development of society.