BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Three major stakeholders in Cross River State have agreed to partner with Ben Akak Foundation to fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
The stakeholders are the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, the 18 Paramount Rulers of Cross River State and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
This resolve was taken yesterday as the Foundation took a sensitization campaign against Covid-19 to the Obong’s Palace, the 18 Paramount Rulers of the state and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
It would be recalled that “so far Cross River is one of the few states in the country that the dreaded COVID-19 has not infected and the Obong and the Paramount Rulers at different occasions said the disease is a serious one hence the need to collaborate with the foundation and the state government to take the message of safety first to their subjects.
During the sentisation visit to the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Abasi-Otu V, who was represented by the Prime Minister of Palace, HRH, Etubom Bassey Duke, expressed happiness that Cross River was still Covid-19 free and pledged to work with the foundation for remembering tie Palace during this period of Covid-19
He called on other sons and daughter of the Efik Kingdom to emulate the foundation by using their goodwill to reach out to the needy in the society and called on residents in the state to adhere strictly to the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC ) in other to contain the spread of the virus in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the 18 Paramount Rulers, the Chairman of the State’s Traditional Rulers Council, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet said right from time immoral the traditional institution has always played a major role in the society as “we custody religions, political, spiritual and other cultures” hence they are in good position to help the foundation and government propagate the good message of COVID-19 so that their subjects will be well informed.
He advised the foundation not to go astray as the Paramount Rulers have resolved to partner in its campaign against Covid-19.
Similarly the Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Victor Udu pledged the Union’s readiness to partner with the foundation as the fight against Covid-19 needs great deal of awareness and sensitization campaign.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation Engr. Ben Akak, said he was at the traditional rulers and the NUJ to solicit their support in the campaign against Covid-19 and at the same time share with them food stuff in times like this and materials for the campaign as their subjects always look up to them for direction.
Akak who was one of the pioneer Founder’s of the great Margaret Ekpo foundation said, “we are available to partner with you so that the local governments you are in charge will be better sensitised as we stand for service to God and humanity
He said that the foundation was established for charity works, humanity and women empowerment in other to create employment and engage the unemployed in meaningful activities and “We are here today to identify with the traditional institution and to contribute our quota within this period of Covid-19”.
” We feel at this point our traditional rulers must be collaborated with for peace, orderliness and safety and we need your blessings to go out there strong and fight COVID-19″.
