WTC News Blog

As the world observes World Breastfeeding Week this year, Cross River State stands as a shining example of progressive policy and collective action in support of mothers and children. This annual celebration provides an opportunity to reaffirm the critical importance of breastfeeding while recognizing bold steps that enable mothers to provide the best start for their infants. This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” carries particular significance. It calls on governments, communities, and partners to move beyond awareness-raising and instead track progress, evaluate what has proven effective, and scale up successful approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes. By focusing on evidence-based interventions that advance nutrition, food security, and poverty reduction, the theme underscores that breastfeeding is not merely a personal choice but a powerful, sustainable public health strategy with lifelong benefits for children...

James Eni Ibor was born on July 15, 1978 in Ekori, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. The first of seven siblings, he spent his early years in Ekori and Calabar, and benefited from the moulding hands of a firm policeman father and a loving but disciplined Deeper Life mother. He began his primary education at St. Francis Primary School, Ekori and completed it at Holy Rosary Primary School, Ulakwo in Imo State in 1990. He was then admitted to St. Patrick’s College, Calabar in 1991 for his secondary school education and completed it in 1998 at Nico Commercial Secondary School, Calabar.   That same year, Ibor joined the employ of Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI), a Nigerian not-for-profit organization committed to the psychological and educational empowerment of young girls. His passion to protect women and other vulnerable groups was nurtured here. His time at the NGO founded by the famous Prof. Bene Madunagu enabled him to meet and interact closely with her equally cereb...

The increasing frequency of landslides and other ecological disasters across Cross River State has become a matter of profound public concern. The recent landslide at Anansa, Calabar, is yet another painful reminder of the growing environmental challenges confronting our State. Sadly, this is not an isolated occurrence. Across many parts of Cross River State, communities continue to experience erosion, flooding, landslides, poor drainage, and other forms of environmental degradation that threaten lives, destroy homes and public infrastructure, and undermine sustainable development. What makes this situation particularly disturbing is that Ecological Funds are disbursed every month through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the Federal Government, State Governments, and Local Government Councils specifically to address ecological problems and mitigate environmental risks. These funds are intended to finance interventions such as erosion control, flood prev...

The recent reshuffle of the Cross River State Executive Council by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, and the scheduled meeting with the newly constituted EXCO today, represent timely and purposeful leadership. In appointing new commissioners and realigning portfolios, the Governor has demonstrated responsiveness to the demands of governance and a clear intent to inject fresh energy into the machinery of state.   We at the Child Protection Network Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, commend this decisive action. Effective leadership is not only about political recalibration; it is about creating the conditions for every sector, especially those that safeguard the most vulnerable, to deliver results. However, leadership must be measured by the priority it accords to those who cannot vote or lobby for themselves - our children.   Violence Against Children remains one of the most urgent and under-addressed challenges facing Nigeria and Cross River State. Ac...

.Activities in commemoration of International Women's Day (IWD) climaxed in Cross River State with a mega rally tagged " Women's Match in March" organized by the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with her partners to mark grand finale of series of activities embarked upon within the month of march in commemoration of this year's Int'l Women's Day.     Flagging off the rally at the millennium park, Calabar, Her Excellency, the wife of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Bishop Dr. Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey Otu who was ably represented by the Special Adviser to the wife of Governor on Programmes, Apostle Queen Eton commended the women for their resilience, dexterity and contributions to the growth and development of the society.   On that note, she flagged off the rally in the name of the triune God.    The women matched through some major streets in Calabar metropolis from 11-11 through Calabar road, Mary Slessor...

Cross River State hosted a Training on Advancing Care-Responsive Climate Investment for Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 (Feb 17–18, 2026). Facilitated by the Department of Gender Mainstreaming in partnership with UN Women and the National Council on Climate Change, the training brought together key stakeholders to examine the care–climate nexus. Discussions highlighted how flooding, heat stress, and food insecurity are increasing unpaid and underpaid care work across communities in Cross River State and Nigeria. Using the 4Rs Framework, we emphasized the need to: Recognize care work Reduce care burdens through climate-smart infrastructure  Redistribute responsibilities across households, markets, and the state Reward care workers Representation of cate givers in decision making. We also explored how to drive investment into climate-smart care systems by: Integrating care into NDC 3.0 implementation plans  Embedding care indicators into climate budgeting and finance f...