Cross River Officially Recognises Female Traditional Ruler

As the world celebrated the achievements of women across different spheres of life, the Cross River State Government chose the period to accord a Certificate of Recognition to one of several female village heads and custodian of culture.

The governor, Professor Ben Ayade presented the village head of Ikot Effa in Calabar Municipality, Her Royal Highness Henrietta Effa Akpera with a Certificate of Recognition through the chairman, Cross River State council of Chiefs and paramount ruler of Bakassi, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet.

Mrs. Akpera becomes the first female traditional leader to be so recognized in Cross River in recent times despite priding itself as a State, where most of its citizens from the hills of Obanliku to the creeks of Bakassi suggest matrilineal ancestry.

During the presentation, the governor advised the traditional leader to steadfastly maintain the peace, harmony and unity of members of her community saying “this certificate should also serves as an encouragement to attract greater investments, projects and programmes to your domain.

“Be assured of our support and readiness to work with you to build a community of people that would be responsive to the government and its people. Congratulation is in order because you have worked hard for the growth of your people and by extension Cross River State,” he said.

Responding, the village head, Mrs. Akpera expressed gratitude to the governor for finally finding her worthy of the Certificate of Recognition eight years after she ascended the throne as the custodian of culture.

Akpera says, “After 8 years of meritorious service and sitting on the throne without a certificate, I thank God that Governor Ayade has signed my certificate of Recognition. At last I can now stand with both legs.

“I am told this is the first time the chairman of the traditional rulers’ council and his entourage have jointly celebrated the first female traditional ruler.”

She solicited for unity and peaceful coexistence amongst all her subjects resident within the community to attract both local, state, national and international developments.

Confidence Okwuchi