By Emmanuel Sampson, Uyo.
The wife of the vice chancellor university of Uyo, Mrs. Rosalyn Essien, has unveiled two foundations to members of the public to help in resolving conflicts in families. The official unveiling which held at the 1000 capacity Tetfund Auditorium, university of Uyo main campus, Nwaniba road, Uyo, had in attendance scholars across all disciplines in the institution and the political class who threw their weight in support of the programme.
The foundations namely, AMATHY PEACE PHEROMONES FOUNDATION a non partisan and non profit organization that is committed to the retrenchment of peace across all strata of our society and PAYFORPHAN FOUNDATION dedicated to the alleviation of the plights of the less privileged persons in the society.
The founder and president of the foundations, Mrs. Essien in her welcome address, explained that the foundations seek to resolve conflicts without recourse to litigation and touch the lives of extremely poor persons.
The Ibiono Ibom born conflict resolution specialist who doubles as the president of University Women Association (UWA) and matron, Center for Gender studies, said she believes in touching lives and being a blessing to humanity. She added that poverty inhibits education but education upon fulfilment will subdue poverty.
Mrs. Essien who has been honoured with various Awards by notable organizations in recognition of her services to humanity especially women, is also an author of a book titled, Conflict management in the University. She is Currently doing her Ph.D in peace and conflict studies.
Mrs. Essien who said she grew up as a peaceful child with a compassionate heart in helping humanity, charged Nigerian especially Akwa Ibombites to consider human capital development a top priority, having seen the realities of our society. The University Women Association President pointed out that being a professional civil servant and having served in various organizations in conflict resolution, she has been exposed her to the plights of children especially orphans who become vulnerable to human traffickers as a result of their inability to get quality education. She used the occasion to call on government and corporate organizations to invest more on education and equally support her newly unveiled Foundations.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Abraham who was the chairman on the occasion, noted that Nigeria needs peace for development, and commended Mrs. Essien for setting the tone for a peaceful society. The legal luminary maintained that the essence of the Foundation is not a business venture, but a service to humanity.
In a lecture presented by Dr. Essien Uko of the Department of Business Administration, the scholar advised that life is all encompassing and requires both the rich and the poor to help one another in building an egalitarian society. He poured encomium on Mrs. Essien for bringing hope to the hopeless by creating a humanitarian outfit and prayed for the progress of the Foundations.
The event featured performances by Union Secondary School, Acapella group, Lebanon Brass Band as well as cultural display by University Women Association choir.
Among dignitaries that grace the occasion was the First Lady, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien (SAN), wife of the Speaker Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, Mrs. Itohowo Bassey, Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Felicia Bassey, Commissioner for Agriculture and women affairs, Dr. Glory Edet as well as academia.
