…Women in Cross River Mining Communities Engaged on Rights, Legal Empowerment
Mfamosing— A civil society organization, We The People (WTP), has taken steps to amplify the voices of women living in mining host communities in Cross River State, by educating them on their rights and promoting legal empowerment NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
At a town hall meeting held Thursda in Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area, the organization brought together women from five impacted communities—Akansoko, Akwa Ikot Effanga, Mfamosing, Abiati, and Mbobui—to share experiences and explore strategies for community-led justice and engagement with mining firms.
According to Nsikak Peter Udofot, Programme Officer for Mining and Forestry at WTP, the event was part of the Strengthening Women in Mining (SWIM) initiative, supported by the Fund for Global Human Rights, in partnership with the Legal Empowerment Fund (LEF) and the Grassroots Justice Network (GJN).
“The aim is to build collective power among women in mining communities—especially those who have historically been excluded from negotiations with companies. We want them to know their rights, use the law, and even shape the law in ways that serve their communities,” Udofot explained.
He noted that women are disproportionately affected by the environmental, health, and social impacts of extractive activities, yet are frequently sidelined in corporate-community dialogues. The SWIM project, he added, is designed not just to raise awareness, but to produce paralegals from within the communities who can advocate effectively for justice without relying entirely on external organizations.
“This is only the beginning,” he said. “Follow-up trainings will equip these women with tools to respond to injustice and advocate for their rights.”
Udofot also revealed that We The People is tracking the reported divestment of Lafarge’s assets to Huaxin Cement Company Ltd, a Chinese firm, and is working to ensure communities are informed and involved in the transition process.
During the interactive session, many women from the affected communities expressed both appreciation and frustration over the activities of Lafarge, one of the major mining operators in the area.
While acknowledging efforts such as school renovations and the construction of a town hall in Mfamosing, the women stressed that these were inadequate in comparison to the environmental degradation and socio-economic losses they endure.
Rev. Rita Henshaw, women leader from Akwa Ikot Effanga, lamented the state of their drinking water and the air they breathe, both of which she said have been severely polluted by mining. “Empowerment is not just about money—it’s about knowledge. And knowledge is what we have gained here today,” she declared.
Hon. Beatrice Ntui from Mbobui criticized the company’s employment practices, saying locals are largely excluded from senior roles despite losing their lands to mining activities. She also raised concern about respiratory health challenges due to dust pollution
Lady Anthonia Bassey from Mfamosing recounted how some women were paid meagre compensations for destroyed farmlands—a move that nearly sparked protest. “We lost our means of livelihood, and they gave us tokens. That’s not justice,” she said.
Rt. Hon. Angelica Bassey of Abiati recounted that “since 2005 when this company came, women have been in tears, and no one has wiped those tears.” She noted that management positions at Lafarge are dominated by non-indigenes, with locals relegated to menial jobs.
From Akansoko, Cassandra Lenelson confirmed the widespread sentiment: “Women are never carried along. We see nothing from the company’s activities.”
Despite their grievances, the women expressed deep appreciation to We The People for facilitating the dialogue and giving them a platform. Many described the town hall as transformative and empowering.
“It opened our eyes,” one participant said. “Now we know that we can speak—and be heard.”
