The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has unveiled the Cross River Market Women Forum for Greatness, describing it as a platform designed to promote prosperity, unity and economic advancement among women traders across the state.
Bishop Otu made the declaration during the official launch of the forum and a mega rally held in Calabar, where market women from across the state gathered to inaugurate the organization and endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu.
Represented by the Wife of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nelly Elvert Ayambem, the governor’s wife said the forum was established to provide support, representation, opportunities and a stronger voice for market women, whom she described as the backbone of commerce in the state.
She noted that the forum was conceived as more than an organization, but as a movement dedicated to fostering hope, unity and prosperity among women engaged in trade and small-scale businesses.
According to her, the initiative will pursue strategic interventions, capacity building programmes, financial support schemes and advocacy efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for market women to grow their businesses, support their families and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
“The Cross River Market Women Forum is more than just an organization; it is a movement of hope, unity and prosperity. Through strategic interventions, capacity building, financial support and advocacy, we will continue to create an enabling environment that helps our market women grow their businesses and contribute meaningfully to our economy,” she said.
Bishop Otu commended the leadership of the forum and market women across the state for their resilience and contributions to economic development, urging members to embrace cooperation and collective progress.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Peter Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu, praised the women for their support for the administration and reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving their welfare.
Odey described market women as critical stakeholders in the state’s development and encouraged them to continue supporting government policies and programmes aimed at economic growth and social development.
He further urged eligible women who had yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so ahead of future elections, stressing the importance of political participation.
As part of the administration’s support for women, the deputy governor announced a donation of N30 million on behalf of Governor Otu to assist members of the forum.
“The governor asked me to convey his love and appreciation to all of you. In the spirit of that commitment, he has approved the donation of N30 million to support your activities,” Odey said.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Bishop Otu said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu places significant emphasis on economic inclusion and empowerment of women as drivers of grassroots development.
The message commended the establishment of the forum and described it as a timely initiative that would promote access to opportunities, skills, finance and social support for women entrepreneurs.
Earlier, the Secretary and representative of the Market Women Association, Mrs. Rita Egbe, said the forum had already impacted hundreds of women through entrepreneurial training and empowerment programmes.
She expressed appreciation to Bishop Otu for bringing market women together under a common platform and appealed for continued government support in the areas of market infrastructure, security, sanitation and disaster response mechanisms.
Egbe said improved access roads, enhanced security and better market facilities would further strengthen the trading environment and improve the livelihoods of women across the state.
The event climaxed with a formal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu by members of the forum, who pledged continued support for their administrations and development agendas.
