It will be quite difficult to find a First Lady or prominent lady of substance who is such a relentless or consistent advocate of women, widows, the girl child and people living with disability like Her Excellency, Reverend Eyoanwan Otu, the First Lady of Cross River State who has led an unrelenting campaign to protect the rights, welfare and well-being of those vulnerable members of society. Reverend Eyoanwan Otu has gone the whole hog in campaigning for their rights and welfare in all facets of human endeavour be it in the health, education, skills acquisition, empowerment schemes as well as protecting them from all kinds of sexual violence or discrimination. To this end Reverend Otu has organized numerous workshops, seminars and enlightenment programs aimed at raising awareness, support and partnership to enhance their status in society.
For instance,16 days of activism was declared against Gender Based Violence and as part of ways to mark the 16 days of activism, a Day of Advocacy was organised by the First Lady, Rev Eyoanwan Otu in conjunction with other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like USAID, NAWOJ, to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the State.
The resolute and uncompromising First Lady was firm in her resolve: “16 women were killed, brutally murdered for the sake of speaking out for women and girls and the vulnerable, and for that reason, we make it a duty and routine to remember them every 25th of November to 10th of December.
“I want to let you know that this government is inclusive. The governor in his sweetness promised to establish a commission for those living with disability and I can assure you that it is already in process and women will play a very prominent role in the commission because when you build the woman, you build the nation. We are in the process of establishing Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV prevention units, across the 18 Local Government Areas so this is assuring and hope lifting that all will be well’.
The First Lady lamented the discrimination against people with disability, stating however that everyone has one form of disabilities or the other: ‘For those living with disabilities, everyone has disabilities. Some of you are disabled in the pockets, some are disabled in the spirit of anger while some are disabled with the spirit of hatred, envy, jealousy, pull her down syndrome, among others. As we retire, ask God to help you disable your disability.”
As part of the activities marking the 16 days of advocacy against Gender-Based Violence, the First Lady has also encouraged many other likeminded groups e.g (NAWOJ) Cross River State to sue for the enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP) Law. According to the NAWOJ leadership the law has been in existence since 2021 and ‘we are trying to advocate and sensitize the public about the provisions of this law and the penalties that have been spelled out for perpetrators’.
Going by the unwavering and relentless commitment of Reverend Eyoanwan Otu to the cause of protection of women, youths, the girl child and people living with disability, it is only a matter of time before all discriminatory practices, policies and violence against the targeted groups are eradicated for the benefit of those affected as well as the society at large. Indeed, the esteemed First Lady of Cross River State is indeed walking her talk.
To God be the glory.
