RismadarVoice Reporters
May 8, 2026
Akwa Ibom State has joined the global community in commemorating the 2026 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day with calls for increased humanitarian action, compassion and support for vulnerable groups.
The 163rd anniversary celebration, held on Friday at the Women Development Centre in Uyo, featured humanitarian awards, goodwill messages, cultural displays and a cake-cutting ceremony.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to humanitarian governance, social protection and partnerships aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
Represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies in the ministry, Mr Edwin James, the commissioner said the theme of this year’s celebration, “United in Humanity,” reflects the values of compassion, neutrality and hope upheld by the Red Cross Movement globally.
Ibanga commended the Nigerian Red Cross Society for its humanitarian interventions, particularly during emergencies and periods of hardship.
She said the administration of Governor Umo Eno had institutionalised humanitarian governance through the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to strengthen support for widows, the elderly, persons with disabilities, displaced families and low-income households.
According to her, government intervention programmes are investments in humanity and social development, stressing that governance must prioritise the welfare and dignity of citizens.
The commissioner also applauded donor agencies, development partners and humanitarian stakeholders for supporting resilience and social protection efforts across the state.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Akwa Ibom, Hon. Sam Ikon, disclosed that the organisation had supported more than 700 flood-affected households in Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibeno and Eastern Obolo within the past year.
He added that Red Cross units had been activated in about 145 schools across the state.
Ikon further revealed that Akwa Ibom now serves as a zonal relief hub for the South-South and South-East regions, with a new storage facility supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
He, however, appealed to the state government for support in providing security for relief materials and establishing a permanent headquarters for the organisation.
According to him, the branch has operated from temporary facilities for 39 years and currently lacks adequate office infrastructure, emergency drill facilities, and operational vehicles.
Ikon also called for statutory funding and disaster response equipment to strengthen the organisation’s emergency response capacity across the state.
