Social welfare is a priority in this government- Linda Ayade

Emmanuel Alfred

The First Lady of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade, has restated her commitment to strengthen humanitarian services and social welfare to refugees in the State.

Dr. Ayade stated this when her pet program, the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF), paid a working visit to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Sub Office in Ogoja, Cross River State.

She was received by the Head of Office, Mr Tesfaye Bekele as part of her tour in company of the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong.

The First Lady disclosed that MDF is a Foundation that caters for the welfare of the vulnerable people and other categories of displaced persons in the State.

According to her, the Foundation is meant to provide motivation and support schemes for the weak and displaced persons as is evident in its many collaborations with development agencies of the United Nations.

She then used the opportunity to present food items to the refugee camp in Ogoja, acknowledged the professional coordination of the UNHCR in the areas of organization and support.

In her remarks, Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong thanked the UNHCR for all its support to the State, reiterating the State Government ‘s continued partnership with the Refugee Commission with assistance to refugees and host communities.

Dr. Asibong who acknowledged the efforts of the MDF and UNHCR, stated that Cross River State hosts about 70% of the total refugee population in Nigeria, which is the reason for the huge figures in the State.