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Ukorebi Esien | 25 November 25, 2025
CALABAR — The Cross River State Planning Commission (SPC) has joined governments and civil society across the world to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening policies and programmes that protect women, girls, and vulnerable groups in line with the developmental vision of the People's First administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Speaking on Tuesday in Calabar, the Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Bong Duke, described the campaign as a crucial reminder that sustainable development is impossible where violence, discrimination, and fear persist. He noted that the Otu-led administration has continued to prioritize human capital development, social protection, and community wellbeing, key pillars necessary for preventing and responding to GBV in the state.
He highlighted the Governor's investments in healthcare expansion, social welfare strengthening, community peacebuilding, and economic empowerment as strategic tools that reduce the vulnerabilities that often expose women and girls to abuse. "Under the People' First agenda, Cross River State is deliberately building a society where every citizen especially women and girls can live, work, and thrive without fear. The State Planning Commission is ensuring that all development plans reflect this priority," Dr. Duke said.
The Commission also announced that it is working with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to integrate GBV prevention and response indicators into the State's Medium-Term Sector Strategies (MTSS) and annual budgets. This, it said, will help ensure that interventions, from safe spaces and legal support to education, economic empowerment, and community mobilization are properly funded and effectively implemented.
Dr. Duke called on community leaders, faith institutions, schools, men's groups, and youth organisations to actively support the campaign, emphasising that ending GBV requires collective responsibility. "Our development goals as a state cannot be achieved when half of our population is held back by violence or inequality. Ending GBV is not just a social obligation, it is a development imperative," he added.
The 16 Days of Activism, observed globally from November 25 to December 10, is an annual campaign that calls for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
The Cross River State Planning Commission reiterated its commitment to coordinated, inclusive planning that puts people first and advances Governor Otu's vision of a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Cross River State.
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