The Cross River State Library Board on Wednesday unveiled a compendium documenting 100 influential women whose contributions have significantly shaped the development of the state.
Speaking at the launch in Calabar, the First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, challenged women to overcome unforgiveness, build stronger solidarity and support one another in their pursuit of leadership and development.
The First Lady, who was represented by her Special Adviser on Administration, Dr Comfort Oko, said the underrepresentation of women in leadership could not be blamed entirely on men, noting that women themselves sometimes failed to support fellow women during elections.
She urged women to build their capacity and demonstrate competence, particularly those seeking leadership positions against male candidates, stressing that women must prove themselves through exceptional performance while strengthening unity among themselves.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ekanem Braide, said women remained underrepresented in key political and public positions despite constituting about half of the population.
Braide advocated equal opportunities for men and women, rejecting quota based approaches such as the 35 per cent affirmative action, which she described as inadequate.
She challenged the 100 women recognised in the compendium to return to their former primary or secondary schools and adopt at least one institution, particularly by supporting the establishment of functional libraries.
According to her, development would remain elusive without the equal participation of women, urging the honourees to move beyond seminars and translate discussions into practical interventions that would positively impact their communities.
Braide commended Governor Bassey Otu for the renovation of the state library, recalling that the education cluster of his transition committee had identified the facility as one of the priority areas requiring attention.
She also called on the organisers to expand future editions of the compendium to include women making significant contributions at the grassroots and in rural communities.
The Chairman of the Cross River State Library Board, Mrs Eme Awatt, described the compendium as a record of excellence, service, resilience and leadership by women who have made remarkable contributions to the development of the state.
Awatt expressed appreciation to Governor Otu for revamping the library complex, describing the intervention as a reflection of his administration's commitment to knowledge, education, culture and human capital development.
She also commended the First Lady for her advocacy and interventions on issues affecting women, children, families and vulnerable persons, saying the publication would inspire younger generations by documenting the stories of women who overcame barriers and transformed their communities.
Awatt appealed to individuals, organisations and philanthropists to adopt schools, establish and strengthen libraries and provide books, stressing that access to knowledge remained critical to shaping the future.
The compendium features women from various spheres of endeavour who have contributed to the growth and development of Cross River State.
Among those recognised is Mrs Archibong Bassey, the first female Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, whose inclusion highlights the growing contributions of women to leadership and the media industry in the state.
0 Comments