The Wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno has lauded the Arit Fuller-Harris Foundation, a New York-based not-for-profit organization, for its efforts in improving the well-being of vulnerable children through investments in education, agriculture, and healthcare.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Foundation at the Old Exco Chamber, Government House, Uyo, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Grace Jim, said the Initiatives aligned with the ARISE Agenda of the current administration led by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno and the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the humanitarian arm of her office.
“This meeting symbolizes the commencement of an exceptional collaboration between the Akwa Ibom State Government, specifically through the office of the First Lady, with the Arit Fuller-Harris Foundation.
“Your initiative doesn’t only align with the ARISE Agenda of this administration; it is also in tandem with the philosophy of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the humanitarian arm of my Office, created to complement the efforts of government in making life meaningful for our people,” she said.
The First Lady specifically praised the Foundation for offering to donate one million books and proposing to establish libraries across Akwa Ibom State, noting that such a gesture will promote the reading culture and complement the government’s efforts at providing quality education in the State.
She appealed to similar organizations and well-placed individuals to take a cue from the Foundation by making substantial contributions towards the successful implementation of the ARISE Agenda.
In her remarks, the Founder of the Foundation, Ambassador Arit Fuller-Harris, expressed delight at the warm reception accorded her and her team while taking time to narrate her personal journey into humanitarian service.
According to her, the project was inspired by her own education experiences and Pastor Umo Eno’s commitment to education, disclosing that the Foundation aims to support education for vulnerable children in Nigeria by opening libraries and providing books.
“I love what the Governor of the State is doing in terms of education. I love his wife and his Deputy, they are God-fearing. I see the Governor’s first interest is in education, and I wanted to know what I could do to help. I decided that what I could do to support his efforts and help my people was to open libraries and provide books,” she revealed.
The high point of the meeting was the symbolic handover of books to the First Lady through the Permanent Secretary.
The event was witnessed by government officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Barr. Edem Selong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Mary Ukoette, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Patrick Eshiet, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Ini James Ikie, Directors in the office of the Deputy Governor, as well as Aides to the Governor.
