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| Gov Ben Ayade(5th from left) and his wife, Linda next to him with Speaker John Lebo of the C’River State House of Assembly(4th from left) with other dignatories at the occasion in Calabar (credit: Charles Ekanem) |
Charles Ekanem|11 June 2018
Cross River State governor, Senator Prof Ben Ayade alongside his dear wife, Dr Linda Ayade, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu and Speaker Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo during the dissemination meeting of the Four Pillar Plus Project eulogised General Electric (GE) for pushing beyond lighting up the entire communities in Cross River to mentoring of students. He specially appealed to the organisation to extend their project to Central and Northern Cross River State.
The governor while appealing, commended General Electric for the commitment towards its corporate social responsibility by reaffirming the commitment of the government and people of Cross River to support the phase two of the project with a seed fund.
Ayade described the project as a gender transformative approach in engaging adolescent girls and boys, women and men in actively examining and changing entrenched unequal gender norms with quality education and healthcare.
He said the project is an equilibrating balance among school children by ensuring parents becomes sensitive to their children through mentee mentor relationship that guarantees future for young African kids as classical departure from their core calling.
Earlier in his remark, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Godwin Ettah said the project has increase potential of adolescents to complete secondary education, pass their secondary school exams and earn their Senior School Certificate Exams (SSCE) with enhance knowledge to protect their sexual and reproductive health.
The Project Director, Tosin Akibu added that with support from GE Foundation, FHI360 was able to implement the Four Pillar Plus Project in Calabar, Cross River State with focus on Education, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, Adolescent career Development, Gender base D violence, mentorship, teacher professional development and community mobilisation. She lauded Cross River State Government for their support.
The Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu alongside few others was awarded for her immense contribution towards school-related gender-based violence response algorithm which was borne out of her first meeting she had with CSOs/NGOs.
This is one of best achievement of Governor Ben Ayade in his 3 years in office in collaboration with Fhi360 Four Pillars plus. Our Primary Health Care facilities offered care to victims of gender based violence, PHC staff have been trained and Dr Betta Edu has been a great personal mentor to most of the young facing health challenges the can’t even tell their parents. It’s has been a great experience for CRS. Dr Edu remained thankful to GE & FHI360 plus for the award given her.
The ceremony was well attended by Members of the State Executive Council, Head of Ayadecare, Chief Godwin Iyala, UNFPA representative, Ken Ehouzou, USAID-HFG, Ibiam Azu, CUSO, Uko Ekott, Head of FHI360 office, Dr Henry Ayuk, Pathfinder International representative, Yemisi Femi Johnson among others.
Ekanem writes from Calabar.
