ENCOMIUM AS AKPABIO'S WIFE DONATES HOUSES TO WIDOWS IN IKA AND ETIM EKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

It was shower of praises on the third day of the new year as the wife of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio, donated houses to Mrs Mercy Augustine Sunday a widow from Efen in Ika Local Government Area and Mrs Etang Robert Ebong from Utu Ikot Eboro in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.

Mrs Akpabio made the donation under the aegis of Senator Godswill Akpabio Foundation and the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organisation which she founded while she served as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State.

Mrs Akpabio and her entourage who were received in the communities of the beneficiaries amidst drumming and dancing was flanked by the Akwa Ibom State State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Ini Okopido, the Acting Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chief Ibanga Etang, former Member of the House of Representatives and Senatorial candidate of the APC, Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo, former member of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Gabriel Tobi, some women leaders and chieftains of the APC.

Speaking while commissioning the houses, Mrs Akpabio said the donation of the fully built and furnished apartments to the widows was a visitation from God. She thanked God for using her as an instrument to enhance the living standard of the less privileged across Akwa Ibom State in the past years.

Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the APC, Hon Okopido described Mrs Akpabio's gesture many years after leaving office as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State as uncommon and praised her for complimenting the efforts of her husband and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in bringing succour to the less privileged in the society and lifting people.

At Ika, the visibly elated beneficiary, Mrs Mercy Augustine Sunday could not hold back her emotions as she heaped praises on Mrs Akpabio and her family for their kind gesture towards her and her eight children consisting of a set of twins, a set of triplets and three other children and prayed to God to uphold them in all their endeavours.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Etang Robert Ebong from Etim Ekpo recalled how she was always hysterical when it was about to rain as she used tarpaulin as part of the roof of her house which was most times blown away by wind.

She said it was a manifestation of God's grace that she had become the proud owner of a tastefully furnished apartment courtesy of Mrs Akpabio.She showered praises on Mrs Akpabio and appreciation to the Almighty God for using the wife of the Minister to change her story. She prayed to God to continue to uphold her and her family.

Mrs Akpabio also empowered other widows in the communities in two Local Government Areas that she visited through donations of clothings and cash.

Through her pet project the Family Life Enhancement Initiative Mrs Akpabio had even after leaving office as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State built and donated houses to widows across Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

Well done mir!