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DR. GLORY EDET

FOUNDER

Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet is a visionary leader, an academic, and a philanthropist. She was appointed Honourable Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State from 2013 to 2022 and served in the following Ministries: Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare (June 2013 to May 2019), Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (2018 to 2019) (Supervising Commissioner), Ministry of Agriculture (May 2020 to March 2022). She was also appointed as the Honourable Commissioner of both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare from 2019 to 2020.

Under her leadership in these positions, she deployed her skills and abilities in leading and executing innovative projects and implementing policies aimed at, amongst others, (a) the empowerment of women, children, widows, orphans, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities and promotion of their social, economic, and political inclusion (b) promoting the education of women, children, widows, orphans, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities and gender equality, healthcare access, and economic opportunities, and (c) improving the economy of the State through the development of the Agricultural sector. She is also the pioneer advocate for the safety of blind people in Akwa Ibom State.  

Owing to her remarkable leadership qualities and competencies, she was appointed Dean of the College of Commissioners and Special Advisers of the Akwa Ibom State Government from 2015 to 2022. Her leadership acumen and competencies were further demonstrated by her appointment to manage both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Women Affairs from 2019 to 2020 (as earlier noted).

Before being appointed an Honourable Commissioner of different governmental ministries by the Akwa Ibom State Government, she worked as a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo (she was on leave of absence while on appointment.) Regarding her academic qualifications, she holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Resource and Environmental Economics (2012), a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics (2006), and a Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics and Extension (2003). She has several academic achievements, with publications in renounced journals cutting across several areas of interest and disciplines, including Agricultural Economics, Environmental Science, Climate Change, and Gender Equality.

Dr. Glory Edet has also attended several trainings and conferences, including, amongst others, (a) the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Conference held in New York, United Nations Headquarters, USA, on the theme “Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of the Millenium Development Goals for Women and Girls (2014), (b) Conference on Gender Budgeting, Women Empowerment and the Millennium Development Goals by African Women Initiative Against Poverty and Abuse, Lagos (2013), (c) Training on Transformational Leadership by Ethlyn Consults (2021), (d) Training on Leadership and Governance Programme, Cambridge Executive Education, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (2013). Dr. Glory Edet is also a member of many professional bodies, including the Nigerian Economic Society and Gender Affirmative Action Group, and a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration. She was also a member of the pioneer Gender Policy Committee of University of Uyo and the coordinator of the Remedial Programme at University of Uyo in 2006.  Her achievements have earned her widespread recognition and awards, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in empowering women, children, orphans, widows, persons with disabilities, and elderly citizens and advancing gender equality.

Driven by her commitment to empowering women, widows, children, orphans, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities and advancing gender equality, Dr. Glory Edet founded the Mary Slessor – Akan Glo Foundation (“MASLAG”). MASLAG’s aims and objectives include, amongst others, providing resources, quality education and skills development, and advocacy for women, children, widows, orphans, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities. Under her leadership, MASLAG has organised numerous projects and has become a catalyst for transformative change, impacting the lives of many women, widows, children, orphans, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities.

Some of Dr. Glory Edet’s notable projects, initiatives, and achievements in MASLAG are:

  • Sponsored 20 (twenty) indigene students in universities and high schools;

  • Organised Psychosocial Skills Training for Orphans and Vulnerable Children;

  • Empowered over 2,000 (two thousand) widows and over 3,000 (three thousand) less privileged women;

  • Assisted (40) persons with disabilities with mobility aids;

  • Built a chapel to commemorate Mary Mitchell Slessor and donated same to the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria for church activities in June 2023;

  • Assisted over 200 (two hundred) multiple birth children and parents;

  • Sponsored skills acquisition programme under which over 200 (two hundred) female youths were trained in hairdressing and tailoring and provided starter packs for their businesses, including sewing machines, hairdryers, generators; and

  • Provide annual support to elderly citizens and financial support for tuition, accommodation, and upkeep for over one hundred (100) students.

Some of Dr. Glory Edet’s notable roles and achievements while serving as Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare are:

  • Member of the National Council for Women Affairs (2013 – 2020);

  • Member of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (2020-2022);

  • Chairperson, Social Investment Programme Committee, Akwa Ibom State (2016 – 2021);

  • Took care of over 800 (eight hundred) orphans on behalf of the Government of Akwa Ibom State in 5 (five) government homes;

  • Member of the following Drafting Committees in Akwa Ibom State:

  1. Ending Violence Against Children (Akwa Ibom State Action Plan, 2014)

  2. Child Safeguarding (Akwa Ibom State, 2018);

  • Chairperson of Child’s Rights Law Implementation Committee in the State under which offenders were punished (in collaboration with the State Ministry of Justice and the State Judiciary);

  • Initiated and chaired the State Gender Policy Committee. This led to the first Gender Policy in Akwa State through her vision and efforts;

  • Led in the Research on Baseline Survey on Harmful Traditional Practices among Women in Akwa Ibom State (2014);

  • Led the Campaign against Rape and Child Abuse;

  • Facilitator on the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law and Keynote Speaker during the Public Hearing at the House of Assembly;

  • First Female Commissioner for Agriculture since the creation of Akwa Ibom State;

  • Attended a workshop on British Support for Prohibition of Trafficking in 2018 and 2019;

  • Collaborated with Female Doctors to carry out sensitisation and screening programmes on breast and cervical cancer and provided support to those with breast and cervical cancer issues;

  • Facilitated the Training for Royal Women (Wives of Chiefs) across all the rural and urban communities in Akwa Ibom State; and

  • Facilitated and sponsored skills acquisition training for less privileged women and persons with disabilities.

While serving as the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet worked with the following Implementing Partners:

  • United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (Local Partners for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project 1&2);

  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Child Protection and Participation Project);

  • FHI360 (HIV in Women and Children Project);

  • British Council (Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs));

  • National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP);

  • Save the Children International;

  • World Bank (HIV/ AIDS Project) (Chairman of Critical Mass Committee)

  • United Nations Population Fund;

  • Management Science for Health; and

Catholic Relief Services (4 Children Project).

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