Market women across Cross River State yesterday endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu for a second term in office as the Cross River State Market Women Forum was inaugurated in Calabar.

The endorsement came during the launch of the forum, an initiative championed by the wife of the governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, to strengthen the economic empowerment and representation of women traders across the state.

In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Bishop Otu described the forum as a strategic platform for promoting women’s economic inclusion and grassroots development.

She said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises women’s participation in economic activities through access to opportunities, skills acquisition, finance and social support.

According to the First Lady, empowering women in business strengthens families, builds resilient communities and contributes to sustainable development.

She also commended Bishop Otu for establishing the forum and reaffirmed her commitment to programmes that uplift women across the country.

Represented by the wife of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mrs Nelly Ayambe, Bishop Otu described the forum as a movement designed to provide market women with stronger representation, improved economic opportunities and a unified voice.

Addressing the gathering, she said the initiative evolved from the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration organised for market women and had grown into a structured platform for their empowerment.

“I came to celebrate the market women so that you know that you have a voice, that you are relevant and that you are as important as anybody else,” she said.

She urged the women to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying the cards would enable them to support leaders whose policies positively affect their lives and businesses.

The governor’s wife also announced empowerment packages for traders, including cash grants, Point-of-Sale machines, business starter packs, wrappers, umbrellas, aprons and bags of rice.

Speaking on behalf of the market women, Rita Egbe said the forum would improve access to finance, strengthen local businesses and create opportunities for entrepreneurship development across the state.

She appealed for increased government intervention in market security, road infrastructure, sanitation facilities and disaster recovery programmes to improve the business environment for traders.

Also speaking, Deputy Governor Peter Odey, who represented Governor Bassey Otu, urged market women to collect their PVCs ahead of future elections and said the administration deserved another term to consolidate on achievements in infrastructure, healthcare and women empowerment.