WTC News Blog

Today I joined stakeholders at a stakeholders’ conference organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO Nigeria) and Nigeria UKPACT to discuss economic opportunities in sustainable ecotourism, aquaculture, carbon trading, and other nature-based livelihoods. It was an important room. For me, it wasn’t only about the conversations around policy frameworks, public-private partnerships, and investment pathways in the nature economy, the room confirmed why we started the Bakassi International Fish Festival in the first place. When we founded the festival in 2022, the goal was never just about annual celebrations only.  The deeper vision hasn’t even unfolded fully. As we progress, it will begin to unfold as we are gradually repositioning a fishing community that had long been viewed through the lens of displacement and hardship, while also spotlighting its real assets, its waters, its culture, its people, and its economic potential. Listening t...

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...

There Has Never Been A Time Like This In The History Of We Africans When Everything Is Towards Finite Reorientation The Leaders Like Ibrahim Traore And The Others From The North Set A Glorious Part Showing The True Strength Of Africa And What Africans Represent He Questioned The Answers Long Presented By The Colonial Masters Turned The Status quo Dared The Supposed Powers From The Global North Or Rather Western World People Who Should Have Been Slaves To Africans The Icing On The Cake About Ibrahim Traore Is That, "He Is Loved By His Countrymen" And In Africa Seen As Messiah Not Just To His People, But To The African Values The World Today Stood In Awe Of His Resolve As A Frontliner In This Quest For African True Freedom Bearing The Spirit Of Franz Fanon And The Aura Of Mohammad Ghaddafi Demonstrate Who A Solder Is In It Real Sense Not Minding The Noise He And Other Twelve Makes The Thirteen African Warriors That Stood As Baobab Sending A Strong Message To The United State Of...

The wife of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Bishop. Dr. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu has reiterated her commitment to paying more attention to issues around children in street condition in Calabar. The First Lady made the commitment during a courtesy visit by the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Civil Society Organizations that work with children as part of activities marking 2025  Int'l Day of Street Children observed 12th April, yearly. After a robust  interative session and presentation of copies of Concept Notes on Rehabilitation of Street Children in Calabar, Cross River State Child Rights Law as well as Guidelines and Regulations for Alternative Care for Children in Cross River State to Her Excellency the wife of the Governor of Cross River State,  Bish. Dr. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu promised to double her efforts towards addressing the issue of street children in Calabar as part of her Humanitarian Interventions. Speaking earlier, the...

The Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Ovai Elder Solomon Osim Edward has  pledged his maximum support towards the implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law. The Monarch made the commitment during an Advocacy Visit by members of the State Child Rights Law Implementation Committee led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom to his office in Calabar. Ovai Elder Solomon Edward reiterated his passion and commitment towards the welfare of children as well as their Rights, hence, he would not hesitate to give his full support towards the implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law. The Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council also informed the committee that the Council will meet in April,2025. He offered to give members of the committee an opportunity to address the Traditional Rulers on the provisions of the Child Rights Law. Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom who led the t...

Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom has charged members of the State Child Rights Law Implementation Committee to be committed to ensuring effective implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law. Hon. Irom gave the charge at a two - Day Capacity Building Workshop recently organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with Save the Children Int'l for members of the State Child Rights Law Implementation Committee at Ogoja in Cross River State. The Commissioner stated that the capacity building workshop was to acquaint members of the committee with adequate knowledge Child Rights, Child Labour and Protection as well as remediation programmes in Cross River State for effective implementation of the Law. Participants at the workshop were drawn from line Ministries that handle issues related to children such as; Ministry of Women Affairs, Social welfare and Community Development, Education, Health, Information, Justice, Agriculture, St...

 Williams Okoi Arikpo Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and the Theme for this year is  "Stepping up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM" Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women. Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health. Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, female genital mutilation is a universal issue and is also practiced in some countries in Asia and Latin America. Female genital mutilation continues to persist amongst immigrant popul...