C’RIVER STATE SETS PACE IN CARE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT: GOVERNOR’S AIDE CONVENES INAUGURAL CARE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP MEETING
✓ Special Assistant on Gender Mainstreaming, Utibe Abasi Bassey Duke, leads stakeholders to chart a gender-responsive framework for the Cross River State Care Policy with support from UN Women Nigeria.
By Editorial-in-Chief
CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE – In a major step towards institutionalising gender-responsive governance, the Cross River State Government has inaugurated the Care Technical Working Group (TWG) to drive the formulation of the Cross River State Care Policy, a comprehensive policy framework aimed at recognising, valuing, and supporting both paid and unpaid care work across the state.
The inaugural meeting, held on Monday, 21st October, was convened by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming, Ms. Utibe Abasi Bassey Duke, and brought together key stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations, and Development Partners.
The meeting provided a platform to define the group’s mandate, set timelines, and commence the drafting of the Care Policy, marking what Ms. Duke described as “an important milestone in advancing the Care Economy agenda in Cross River State.”
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Duke reaffirmed the state government’s commitment, under the leadership of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to mainstream gender equality and social inclusion across all sectors. She emphasised that the Care Policy will ensure that care work, whether at home, in communities, or in professional settings, receives due recognition and support through progressive, gender-sensitive policies.
“As the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming, I am honoured to spearhead this process in collaboration with other MDAs and with technical support from UN Women Nigeria,” Ms. Duke stated. “Together, we are building a more inclusive and caring society that values the contributions of every citizen.”
The initiative benefits from the technical partnership of UN Women Nigeria, under the Global Alliance for Care (Alianza Global por los Cuidados) framework, a global movement dedicated to transforming care systems and promoting gender equality through shared responsibility between the state, the market, communities, and families.
Participants at the meeting expressed optimism that the development of the Care Policy will serve as a blueprint for sustainable social protection, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth, positioning Cross River State at the forefront of care economy reform in Nigeria.
The event was documented by Her Voice Foundation Media, underscoring the growing collaboration between government and civil society in achieving shared development goals.
