Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, has launched her pet-project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as she celebrates her 57th birthday.
Pst Patience Umo, who spoke during the launch on Tuesday, at Ibom Hall, Uyo, said GIFA was targeted at building the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable families in the society.
Unveiling the project, the Governor’s wife listed the focus areas to include: Maternal and child healthcare, Enhancing literacy and learning, Improving environmental health, Women empowerment, Fight against disease, Care for elderly, Care for persons living with disabilities and Gender-based Violence prevention and response.
“Borne out of sheer compassionate yearning, GIFA is poised to address specific needs for all members of the family. GIFA envisions a society with happy, healthy, educated, successful and sustainable families devoid of vulnerabilities,” she said.
While thanking individuals and organisations who have partnered with her, Pastor Patience Eno called on other relevant bodies to join her in advancing the vision of supporting families in the state.
She further explained that there are three categories of partnership for the project; Gold, Silver and Bronze, urging interested persons and bodies to contact the Economic Adviser to the Governor and GIFA Chief Consultant, Dr. Uduakobong Inam, for details on how to become a partner.
Speaking at the event to mark the official launch of the pet project and the 57th birthday of his wife, Patience, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno poured encomiums on the First Lady on her birthday and applauded her humanitarian disposition over the years, noting that the GIFA platform will launch her out to be a blessing to a larger group of people and families.
He described the initiative as beautiful and a reflection of Pastor Patience Eno’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of Akwa Ibom citizens, with thematic components intended to salvage humanity, pledging his support to the ideals of GIFA.
In his words, “I want to say that I am incredibly proud of your dedication and compassion. Your drive to make a difference shine through in every aspect of GIFA, and I am confident that this programme will leave a lasting impact on countless life in this live and beyond. You have been true to yourself. You have been an incredible wife and mother; our children and I are really proud of you”.
Welcoming guests to the event, the Economic Adviser to Governor Umo Eno, Dr. Uduakobong Inam, said the ‘Golden Initiative for All’ is a sustainability platform that will pilot human and capacity development in the state.
Dr. Inam re-echoed that the project is poised to improve the well-being of families, women, men, children, youths and the elderly through live impacting programmes
In their separate goodwill messages, the wife of the Immediate past Governor, Dr. Martha Udom, wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Claudiana Sanwu-Olu, wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Mariam Ogunwusi, Yeyesorun of Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, Olori Mary Tinuade, Director General of Government, Assam Assam SAN, among others applauded Pastor Patience Eno for her vision and commitment in improving on the lives of the people of Akwa Ibom State through GIFA noting that the project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which they believe will provide a more equitable society and opportunities for everyone in the family to thrive.
The initiative they said complements on the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno whom they applauded for creating and sustaining a serene and enabling environment in the state.
The event drew a large number of personalities including; Government Functionaries, Service Commanders, Captains of Industries, Donor Agencies, Socio Political Groups, Stakeholders, Women Groups among others, who made generous donations to the Governor’s wife’s project.