The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has reiterated her commitment to breaking educational barriers and empowering children across the State through sustained and strategic investments in education.
Lady Obareki stated this during the GIFA Back-to-School programme, where she provided school supplies to 500 students from select public secondary schools across the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
At the event which took place at grounds of the Local Government Council secretariat, the Coordinator who is also the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) emphasised that her dual role is centred around a unifying purpose of empowering children by granting them access to quality education.
“From the Office of the First Lady to GIFA our commitment to enhancing education is crystal clear. In line with our belief that education is the most potent instrument for socio-economic change, our mission is to break down financial barriers, ensuring that the zeal to learn is never dampened by the lack of necessity.”
Represented by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Inemesit Uwah, Lady Obareki noted that the Back-to-School programme designed to enhance literacy and learning, is a strategic investment in the future of children who will grow up and become professionals and political leaders, equipped to take on leadership positions and ensure the development of the state.
While expressing gratitude to partners of GIFA for their contributions to the realisation of the vision of the office of the First Lady, GIFA and the ARISE Agenda, Lady Obareki encouraged the beneficiaries to secure their future by being diligent in their studies, respectful to their teachers and parents and set ambitious goals.
“This school supplies represents a fresh start and a renewed opportunity for you to excel to become who you want to be in future.”
“I extend my gratitude to all our supporting partners who have selflessly contributed to this programme. Your contributions have transformed a good idea into a powerful demonstration that the development of Akwa Ibom State is a collective responsibility in support of the ARISE Agenda of the Akwa Ibom State Government;” she said.
The Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Council Edidiong Inyang and his wife Mrs Glory Inyang, thanked the Coordinator of the office of the First Lady for flagging off the GIFA Back-To-School programme in their LGA, assuring of their support for GIFA projects.
Goodwill messages were received from partners and wives of other Local Government Council Chairmen during the event which featured the distribution of school bags, exercise books and essential learning materials to the students.
