By Ubong David
The story of Mother Teresa has been that of care, compassion and empathy for fellow human beings especially the destitute and less privilege in the society. Like our Lord Jesus Christ, young Agnes Gonxha Bjaxhiu later known and addressed as Mother Teresa was committed to the service of God and humanity early in life. She cared mostly for the poor and helped those who cannot help themselves. In 1947, because of her humanitarian services, Rome granted Mother Teresa permission to work with the poor in the slums and in 1950, she established her own order, the Missionaries of Charity which was granted papal recognition to expand her charity work outside India.
The story of Mother Teresa has been that of care, compassion and empathy for fellow human beings especially the destitute and less privilege in the society. Like our Lord Jesus Christ, young Agnes Gonxha Bjaxhiu later known and addressed as Mother Teresa was committed to the service of God and humanity early in life. She cared mostly for the poor and helped those who cannot help themselves. In 1947, because of her humanitarian services, Rome granted Mother Teresa permission to work with the poor in the slums and in 1950, she established her own order, the Missionaries of Charity which was granted papal recognition to expand her charity work outside India.
She wrote, "I picked up a man from the street, and he was eaten up
alive from worms. Nobody could stand him, and he was something so badly.
I went to clean him, and he asked, 'Why do you do this? I said, Because
I love you."
Mother Teresa life was a symbolism of love, compassion and empathy for the poor and less privilege around the world. For her unwavering commitment to aiding those most in need, Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. She combined profound empathy and a fervent commitment to her cause to help impoverished citizens across the globe. By the time of her death in 1997, the Missionaries of Charity numbered more than 4000 in addition to thousands more lay volunteers with 610 foundations in 123 countries around the world. She received both the Nobel Peace Prize Award and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour for her work in humanitarian services.
After the exit of Mother Teresa, Akwa Ibom State was privileged to have another woman of compassion in Ekaette Unoma Akpabio. She came with a heart full of compassion as cared for the less privilege and built houses for widows across the 31 local government in the state. She encouraged Akwa Ibom women to be useful vessels in their home and immediate environment and extended a hand of fellowship to the women which culminated to women dominating the political space in the state. In 2015, when she left office as wife of the governor, her legacy was sustained by Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who stepped into her shoe and make women empowerment a top priority of the present administration in the state.
Complementing the humanitarian activities of Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel is a dynamic and vibrant young lady and a mobilizer of women, Edna Bassey from Nsit Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom State. The young lady is the founder and leader of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom State, a socio-cultural and political organization in the the state that is in the fore front of mobilizing Akwa Ibom women for political and religious functions in the state. Her organization is strong with numerical strength of over 20,000 registered and active membership including the blind, crippled and other physically challenged. She pay 22 of the physically challenge N5000 each on every prayer day to take care of their self and to help them to buy soap and wash their clothes. "I used to pay the 22 physically challenged N5000 each per every monthly prayer day but since my work with former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elder Sam Ikon ended, I have reduced the amount to N3000 each as I do not have source of income to sustained the earlier amount I used to pay them," she said. Edna Bassey also has another group, Akwa Ibom Female Youth comprising of young ladies especially those from the rural areas with 200 registered members in each of the 31 local government area of the state.
One distinguished characteristics of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom is their strong faith in God and the Divine Mandate Project as they gathered every second Saturday of the month at St. Luke Primary School, Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom local government area to pray for Akwa Ibom State, the governor and other leaders especially those occupying political offices in the state. Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom State has been consistent in this very important exercise for the past three years through incredible and managerial skills of their leader, Edna Bassey.
During their monthly routine prayer meeting, a 90 year old childless woman, Madam Jenny Akpan Afia was picked from the street of Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom LGA which coincidentally is the headquarter of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom. Madam Jenny was living in a leaked thatch house and find it very difficult to afford a square meal per day. She didn't have even soap to wash her clothes but always walked down to the stream and picked remnant of leftover soap to wash her clothes. Just like Mother Teresa, Edna Bassey picked Madam Jenny from her thatch house, rent a house for two years for her, make provision for her daily upkeep and hired a maid to cook and cater for her. The story of Madam Jenny Akpan Afia has changed as she is now one of the most happiest person since the day she identified with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom and has since adopted Edna Bassey as her only daughter.
Today, Madam Jenny face is beam with smiles and the 93 year old woman has this to say, "I am more happy in the past three years of my life with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom more than my past 90 years on earth. Since the day I identified with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom, my life has been fulfilling and interesting," she said. Her statement was justified when her adopted daughter, Edna Bassey was appointed as a Member of the Transition Committee in Nsit Ibom LGA recently. Madam Jenny joined other women of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom to dance her heart out in appreciation to God for lifting her daughter to be recognized by the wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel. The Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom poured encomium on the governor and his wife for recognizing their effort with the appointment of their leader as a Caretaker Committee Member and promised to remain more committed and loyal to the administration of Udom Emmanuel in the state. Madam Jenny was full of praises to God for answering her prayer and vowed to be more committed to the aims and objectives of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom as long as she lived.
Like Mother Teresa, Edna Bassey has brought hope to the hopeless and show empathy to those in need of help like Madam Jenny Akpan Afia. Though she doesn't have sponsors or support from any source, she said emphatically that she will continue to encourage women and young girls who are in need of help for survival as long as God give her the enablement. Indeed, Edna Bassey is the new face of Humanitarian Services in Akwa Ibom State and need to be encourage and supported by government, philanthropists and corporate organizations in and outside the state as she run a very open and transparent organization devoid of ethnicity and inclusiveness. One may not be wrong to conclude that Edna Bassey is the new Mother Teresa of Akwa Ibom State as she stepped into the shoe of Her Excellencies, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio and Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel respectively.
Mother Teresa life was a symbolism of love, compassion and empathy for the poor and less privilege around the world. For her unwavering commitment to aiding those most in need, Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. She combined profound empathy and a fervent commitment to her cause to help impoverished citizens across the globe. By the time of her death in 1997, the Missionaries of Charity numbered more than 4000 in addition to thousands more lay volunteers with 610 foundations in 123 countries around the world. She received both the Nobel Peace Prize Award and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour for her work in humanitarian services.
After the exit of Mother Teresa, Akwa Ibom State was privileged to have another woman of compassion in Ekaette Unoma Akpabio. She came with a heart full of compassion as cared for the less privilege and built houses for widows across the 31 local government in the state. She encouraged Akwa Ibom women to be useful vessels in their home and immediate environment and extended a hand of fellowship to the women which culminated to women dominating the political space in the state. In 2015, when she left office as wife of the governor, her legacy was sustained by Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who stepped into her shoe and make women empowerment a top priority of the present administration in the state.
Complementing the humanitarian activities of Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel is a dynamic and vibrant young lady and a mobilizer of women, Edna Bassey from Nsit Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom State. The young lady is the founder and leader of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom State, a socio-cultural and political organization in the the state that is in the fore front of mobilizing Akwa Ibom women for political and religious functions in the state. Her organization is strong with numerical strength of over 20,000 registered and active membership including the blind, crippled and other physically challenged. She pay 22 of the physically challenge N5000 each on every prayer day to take care of their self and to help them to buy soap and wash their clothes. "I used to pay the 22 physically challenged N5000 each per every monthly prayer day but since my work with former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elder Sam Ikon ended, I have reduced the amount to N3000 each as I do not have source of income to sustained the earlier amount I used to pay them," she said. Edna Bassey also has another group, Akwa Ibom Female Youth comprising of young ladies especially those from the rural areas with 200 registered members in each of the 31 local government area of the state.
One distinguished characteristics of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom is their strong faith in God and the Divine Mandate Project as they gathered every second Saturday of the month at St. Luke Primary School, Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom local government area to pray for Akwa Ibom State, the governor and other leaders especially those occupying political offices in the state. Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom State has been consistent in this very important exercise for the past three years through incredible and managerial skills of their leader, Edna Bassey.
During their monthly routine prayer meeting, a 90 year old childless woman, Madam Jenny Akpan Afia was picked from the street of Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom LGA which coincidentally is the headquarter of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom. Madam Jenny was living in a leaked thatch house and find it very difficult to afford a square meal per day. She didn't have even soap to wash her clothes but always walked down to the stream and picked remnant of leftover soap to wash her clothes. Just like Mother Teresa, Edna Bassey picked Madam Jenny from her thatch house, rent a house for two years for her, make provision for her daily upkeep and hired a maid to cook and cater for her. The story of Madam Jenny Akpan Afia has changed as she is now one of the most happiest person since the day she identified with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom and has since adopted Edna Bassey as her only daughter.
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| Edna Bassey, Founder and Leader of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom and President, Akwa Ibom Female Youth |
Today, Madam Jenny face is beam with smiles and the 93 year old woman has this to say, "I am more happy in the past three years of my life with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom more than my past 90 years on earth. Since the day I identified with Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom, my life has been fulfilling and interesting," she said. Her statement was justified when her adopted daughter, Edna Bassey was appointed as a Member of the Transition Committee in Nsit Ibom LGA recently. Madam Jenny joined other women of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom to dance her heart out in appreciation to God for lifting her daughter to be recognized by the wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel. The Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom poured encomium on the governor and his wife for recognizing their effort with the appointment of their leader as a Caretaker Committee Member and promised to remain more committed and loyal to the administration of Udom Emmanuel in the state. Madam Jenny was full of praises to God for answering her prayer and vowed to be more committed to the aims and objectives of Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom as long as she lived.
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| Mother and Daughter, Madam Jenny and Edna at the reception |
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| Akwa Ibom Female Youth trumpeting for their leader |
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| Youth Leaders that attended the event. SA to the Governor on Social Reorientation, Ekpeno Gold, Linus Effiong, Secretary General of Coalition of Youth Leaders in AKS, Sylvester Ebong, PRO of NYCN, AKS and others |
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| Edna Bassey with her group at Nsit Ibom Council Secretariat |
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| Madam Jenny Akpan Afia, the 93 years old childless woman taken care of by Edna Bassey |
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| Celebrating galore |
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| Dancing with Madam Jenny |
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| Edna Bassey cheering her groups |
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| Madam Jenny Akpan Afia with Ubong David, Publisher of www.ubongdavid.blogspot.com |
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| Ekemini Iban Akwa Ibom competing in dancing to celebrate their leader |
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| Madam Jenny dancing her heart out |
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| Edna Bassey addressing her women group at the reception in Mbiokporo |
Like Mother Teresa, Edna Bassey has brought hope to the hopeless and show empathy to those in need of help like Madam Jenny Akpan Afia. Though she doesn't have sponsors or support from any source, she said emphatically that she will continue to encourage women and young girls who are in need of help for survival as long as God give her the enablement. Indeed, Edna Bassey is the new face of Humanitarian Services in Akwa Ibom State and need to be encourage and supported by government, philanthropists and corporate organizations in and outside the state as she run a very open and transparent organization devoid of ethnicity and inclusiveness. One may not be wrong to conclude that Edna Bassey is the new Mother Teresa of Akwa Ibom State as she stepped into the shoe of Her Excellencies, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio and Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel respectively.
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