UDOM COMMISERATES WITH HIGH CHIEF EDEM DUKE AS HE BURRIES HIS MOTHER

Governor Udom Emmanuel has commiserated with the family of former Minister of Culture, High Chief Edem Duke, on the demise of his beloved mother Late Chief Mrs Anna Etim Way.
At the funeral held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Egerton street calabar, Governor Emmanuel described the foremost Home Economics Teacher as a trail blazer in women development who, as an educationist, strived to liberate the society from the shackles of ignorance and poverty.
Governor Emmanuel who pointed out that it was a no mean feat for a woman to study up to Masters Degree at Colorado University United States Of America far back in the sixties stated that such quintessential exploit by a mother who was highly educated and exposed made her a reference point in the girl child education and that the deceased love for humanity went across borders.
He urged the bereaved family particularly High Chief Edem Duke to be consoled by the legacies bequeathed them by their departed Matriarch.
The Governor of Cross River State Professor Ben Ayade in a tribute thanked God for the gift of Late Chief Anna Etim whom she described as a torch bearer and observed that her contribution to the uplift of the state, the South East Region and Nigeria is likened to that of Mary Slessor who salvaged the area from savage and babaric customs such as the killing of twin babies.
He said that Mrs Anna’s passion for the golden fleece took her beyond the shores of this continent and that those who passed through her tutelage savoured a rare knowledge in the domestic science .
He however urged the family to be comforted by the indelible footprints of their beloved mother.
Governor Udom Emmanuel was accompanied by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt.Hon. Onofiok Luke and Secretary to the State Government Sir Ettekamba Umoren.
Friends of the Duke’s family including former Governor of Taraba State, Mr Jolly Nyame, Edem Duke’s cousin and former Governor of Cross River State Mr Donald Duke, Senator Ndoma Egba, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Political Class, Captains of Industry among others graced the occasion.