The Cross River State Library Board on Wednesday launched a compendium documenting 100 influential women whose contributions have shaped the development of the state.
Speaking at the launch in Calabar, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, Cross River’s First Lady challenged women to overcome unforgiveness and support one another.
Represented by Dr Comfort Oko her Special Adviser on Administration, Otu said women’s underrepresentation was not solely caused by men, stressing that women sometimes failed to vote for fellow women during elections.
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Comfort urged participants to build women’s capacity, insisting that women seeking leadership positions against men must demonstrate exceptional competence, while encouraging stronger solidarity among women.
Prof. Ekanem Braide, Chairman of the occasion, said women remained underrepresented in top political and public positions despite constituting about half of the population.
Braide who was the Chairman of the occasion, advocated equal opportunities for men and women, rejecting quota-based approaches such as the 35 per cent affirmative action, which she described as inadequate.
She urged the 100 women honoured to visit their former primary or secondary schools and adopt one institution, particularly by helping establish functional libraries.
“Development will remain elusive without women’s equal participation, so, beneficiaries must move beyond seminars and transform discussions into practical interventions within communities,” she said
She commended Governor Bassey Otu for renovating the state library, recalling that the education cluster of his transition committee had prioritised the facility among its recommendations.
Braide also urged organisers to extend future editions beyond prominent personalities and recognise women making significant contributions at the grassroots and in rural communities.
Mrs Eme Awatt, Chairman, Cross River State Library Board, said the compendium represented a record of excellence, service, resilience and leadership by women who contributed significantly to the state.
Awatt thanked Governor Otu for revamping the library complex, describing the intervention as consistent with his administration’s commitment to knowledge, education, culture and human capital development.
She commended the First Lady for championing women, children, families and vulnerable people, saying the publication would inspire young people by documenting women who overcame barriers and transformed communities.
Awatt called on individuals, organisations and philanthropists to adopt schools, build or strengthen libraries, and provide books, saying access to knowledge was essential to shaping the future.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the compendium which consisted of women from different spheres of endeavours also has Ms Archibong Bassey, first female chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Cross River.
