22/11/2025
MRS NELLY GEORGE HENSHAW TAKES OATH AS CO-ORDINATOR OF ARISE WOMEN FOR UMO ENO IN OKOBO
The wife of the Executive Chairman of Okobo LGA, Mrs. Nelly George Henshaw, has been officially sworn in as the Coordinator of Arise Women for Umo Eno in Okobo Local Government Area, marking a major boost to the expanding women-mobilisation structure in Akwa Ibom State.
The inauguration ceremony, which was held on Friday, November 21, at the Okobo Local Government Council Secretariat, Okopedi, attracted an impressive assembly of women leaders, including the Honourary Special Adviser to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, on Women Mobilisation, Mrs. Ekemini Umo; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Ekanem; as well as the leadership and members of the Wives of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria Akwa Ibom State Chapter (WALGON), led by the wife of the Chairman of Uyo LGA, Mrs. Uwemedimo, political stakeholders, community influencers, and supporters who converged to celebrate the new leadership of the Arise Women platform in the LGA.
Delivering her keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Inibehe Silas, praised the Arise Women organisation for its consistent contributions to grassroots empowerment. She highlighted the need for renewed collaboration among women, urging them to remain steadfast in their support for Governor Umo Eno and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure continued development across the state. The Commissioner thereafter administered the oath of office to Mrs. Henshaw, describing her as a leader whose compassion and organisational depth make her perfectly suited for the role.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Nelly George Henshaw expressed deep appreciation for the confidence reposed in her, pledging to justify the trust through effective mobilisation and impactful programmes. She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the Arise Women network in Okobo, with a particular focus on economic empowerment, skills acquisition, community support systems, and increased participation of women in governance. Mrs. Henshaw echoed the call for women to continue supporting Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda and the APC, describing their cooperation as vital to sustaining growth, peace, and progress in Okobo and Akwa Ibom State.
Earlier in their separate goodwill messages, the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs.) Enobong Uwah; the former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey; and the wife of the Honourable Commissioner for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Mmokut Ubuo Effiong, congratulated the new coordinator and emphasized the importance of unity among women. They applauded Mrs. Henshaw’s appointment as both strategic and inspirational, stressing that the movement requires committed women to sustain the gains recorded so far. They jointly urged women across Okobo to rally unwavering support for Governor Umo Eno’s development agenda and the APC government at large.
The Executive Chairman of Okobo LGA, Rt. Hon. Engr. George Henshaw was represented at the event by the Vice Chairman of Okobo LGA, Hon. ( Mrs) Veronica Clement commended the Chairman wife’s dedication to community service and encouraged the newly inaugurated team to uphold integrity, inclusiveness, and service-driven leadership. Honourable Clement described the Arise Women platform as a necessary channel for advancing the welfare and influence of women in local governance.
The ceremony featured songs, dance performances, solidarity messages, and the unveiling of the operational roadmap for the Okobo Arise Women chapter.
With the successful inauguration, Mrs. Nelly George Henshaw is now set to lead a renewed women-focused mobilisation drive aimed at deepening community development and sustaining broad-based support for Governor Umo Eno and the APC in Okobo.
© Media/ Information Unit
Office of the Chairman
Okobo LGA
November 21, 2025
