Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has expressed her commitment to partner with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in the fight against gender based violence, child abuse and other vices in the state.
Lady Obareki who stated this on Friday, July 18, 2025, when she received members of the Akwa Ibom State branch of FIDA on an advocacy visit to her office at Government House, Uyo, pledged to provide financial and operational support to enhance FIDA’s capabilities in fulfilling its core mandate in the state.
“Today, I do have a better understanding of the job that FIDA does. It is always important to understand the roles and functions of organisations and this meeting has afforded me the opportunity to be able to do that.
“We will take into consideration all of your needs and moving forward, we are going to work very closely together. I can guarantee that. It is important to know that I have these women of capacity that I can call when Gender Based Violence issues are brought to my attention.”
Lady Obareki
The Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Nigeria, FIDA, Uyo branch, Chief Magistrate Helen Umana, stated that the professional body which is dedicated to the promotion, protection and preservation of the rights of women, seeks to collaborate with the Office of the First Lady on legal awareness, advocacy and sensitization campaigns to support the rights of women and children in the state.
Magistrate Umana informed the First Lady Designate of the challenges faced by FIDA in the management of a shelter in Ikot Ekpene for the protection, counselling and rehabilitation of survivors of abuse and GBV, while soliciting for financial support to meet the welfare, medical and educational needs of the inmates at the facility.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Inibehe Silas, described members of FIDA as powerful advocates for the rescue of victims of abuse and GBV, thereby restoring their rights and confidence, while appealing for continuous support to ensure that justice is served to perpetrators’
Highlight of the advocacy visit was the decoration of Lady Helen Eno Obareki as the matron of FIDA Nigeria, Uyo Branch.
