The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Ntufam Rt. Hon. Deacon George O’ben-Etchi, Ph.D, has unveiled the Faith O’ben-Etchi Foundation, a humanitarian initiative established in memory of his late wife, Faith Nkoyo O’ben-Etchi.
The foundation, launched at the Prof. Eyo Ita House in Calabar, is designed to continue her legacy of compassion and community service, focusing on widows, children and other vulnerable groups. The event attracted family members, friends, government officials and beneficiaries, all gathered to celebrate the life of a woman remembered for her kindness and devotion to helping others.
In an emotional speech, Hon. O’ben-Etchi said the Foundation was conceived to sustain his wife’s passion for supporting the needy. He recalled that the idea was born during the COVID-19 lockdown, when his late wife took it upon herself to provide food and relief materials to widows and street children hit hard by the economic downturn.
He outlined five key areas of focus for the foundation: empowerment widows, support for street children, educational assistance, care for the aged, and general empowerment programmes.
According to him, the foundation is entirely self-funded, relying on personal and voluntary contributions. He revealed that over 300 women are beneficiaries of the first empowerment phase, with N30 million raised and disbursed based on individual needs and existing ventures.
The Director General of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA), Mr. Great Ogban Usetu, in a goodwill message, described the late Faith O’ben-Etchi as “a woman of enterprise and compassion who found joy in making other women smile.” He urged beneficiaries to make good use of the support to grow their businesses and become self-reliant.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, shared fond memories of the couple, commending their strength and resilience. He praised the foundation as “a sustainable initiative that will outlive one-time donations,” and pledged his continued support.
The Director General of the State Electrification Agency, Mr. Francis Ekpo, also pledged N1 million in support of the foundation. Commending Dr. O’ben-Etchi, he said, “Hon. George, you are a strong man for being both a father and a mother at the same time.”
Guests at the event commended Hon. O’ben-Etchi for immortalizing his wife’s legacy through a cause that empowers others. Many described the foundation as a reflection of the late Faith’s lifelong commitment to kindness and humanity.
Beneficiaries, in turn, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the foundation for the financial support, pledging to invest the funds wisely to improve their livelihoods.
The Faith O’ben-Etchi Foundation now stands as a symbol of love, resilience, and service—a lasting tribute to a woman whose compassion continues to touch lives across Cross River State and beyond.
Other dignitaries at the event included Hon. Eric Anderson (Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President), Dr. Gloria Effiong (CRS 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 (DG, Code 888), Hon. Sylvester Nsa, Mrs. Bassey Onoyom (Permanent Secretary, Forestry Commission), Ms. Magdalene Ekpe (Leader, Akamkpa Legislative Council), and representatives of the Timber Dealers Association, among others.
