FAITH O’BEN-ETCHI FOUNDATION UNVEILED: HON. GEORGE O’BEN-ETCHI EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS IN HONOUR OF LATE WIFE’S LEGACY
✓ A living tribute to compassion, resilience, and service to humanity
By Christiana Ushang.
In a heartfelt celebration of love, legacy, and compassion, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Ntufam Rt. Hon. (Dr) Deacon George O’ben-Etchi, has officially unveiled the Faith O’ben-Etchi Foundation, a humanitarian initiative established in honour of his late wife, Faith Nkoyo O’ben-Etchi.
The unveiling ceremony, held at the Prof. Eyo Ita House, Calabar, brought together family members, friends, government functionaries, associates, and beneficiaries who converged to celebrate the enduring values and humanitarian spirit of the late Mrs Faith O’ben-Etchi, a woman fondly remembered for her selflessness, generosity, and commitment to uplifting lives.
Speaking with deep emotion, Hon. O’ben-Etchi expressed gratitude to all who graced the occasion, noting that the Foundation was birthed to preserve and advance his wife’s dream of serving humanity. He recounted that the idea took shape during the COVID-19 lockdown, when the late Faith O’ben-Etchi tirelessly provided food and relief materials to widows, orphans, and street children affected by economic hardship.
According to him, the Faith O’ben-Etchi Foundation will focus on five key intervention areas:
✓ Empowerment of widows
✓ Support for street children
✓ Educational funding
✓ Care for the aged
✓ General empowerment initiatives
Dr O’ben-Etchi further emphasised that the Foundation is entirely self-funded, relying solely on personal and voluntary contributions. He revealed that over 300 widows have benefitted in the current phase of the empowerment scheme, with ₦30 million raised for disbursement based on individual needs and existing business ventures.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA), Mr Great Ogban Usetu, described the late Faith O’ben-Etchi as “a woman of enterprise and compassion who found joy in making other women smile.” He urged the beneficiaries to use the financial assistance judiciously to grow their ventures and sustain their families.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, lauded the initiative and shared fond memories of the deceased, commending the O’ben-Etchi family’s strength and resilience. He pledged continued support to the Foundation, describing it as “a sustainable intervention that transcends one-off donations.”
In another goodwill remark, the Director-General of the State Electrification Agency, Mr Francis Ekpo, announced a personal donation of ₦1 million to the Foundation. He praised Dr O’ben-Etchi’s fortitude, remarking, “Hon. George, you are indeed a strong man for being both a father and a mother at the same time.”
The event was graced by several dignitaries including Hon. Eric Anderson (Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President), Dr Gloria Effiong (Cross River State Accountant-General), Prince Edwin Okon, Ph.D (Executive Chairman, Internal Revenue Service), Hon. Charles Atu (DG, Due Process), Ewo Abasi Okon (Special Adviser on Budget), Dr Maurice Nkong (SSA and DG, Code 888), Hon. Sylvester Nsa, Mr Otu Otu (SA, Budget), Mrs Bassey Onoyom (Permanent Secretary, Forestry Commission), Ms Magdalene Ekpe (Leader, Akamkpa Legislative Council), Mr Ntui (SSA on Environment), Mr Joseph Ishagi (APC Organising Secretary), Mrs Onen Thelma Ebokpo, Eld. Roger Emori (Director, Administration, Forestry Commission), and representatives of the Timber Dealers Association, among others.
Guests at the event commended Hon. O’ben-Etchi for immortalising his wife’s humanitarian legacy and urged beneficiaries to make the most of the empowerment opportunity.
In a show of gratitude, beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Foundation, pledging to utilise the support productively to improve their livelihoods and contribute to society.
The Faith O’ben-Etchi Foundation thus stands as a beacon of hope and compassion, a living monument to a woman whose life exemplified service, kindness, and faith, and whose legacy continues to inspire meaningful change across Cross River State and beyond.
