The Obong of Calabar and the grand patriarch of the Efik kingdom, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, has decried the low level of awareness on social security system in the state as it concerns Federal and State social security system in the state.
The Obong called on the relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in the awareness campaign to reduce the economic and social vulnerability of the poor and marginalised groups in the society.
The Edidem Ekpo Otu said this at the Etubom Traditional Council, in the palace of the Obong of Calabar while reacting to a keynote address presented by Archibong Archibong, archbishop of IBC and convener of opinion leaders’ forum for the establishment of Social Security System in the state.
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According to the Obong, the Efik people both home and abroad should come together and help in building a virile kingdom through cooperation irrespective of their political learning, as we approach election year.
In his keynote address, the convener of the forum and representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung KAS, Archibong said social security was aimed at providing for the material needs of individuals and families, protecting aged and disable persons against the expenses of illness that might otherwise use up their savings.
He also noted that social security would give children the chance to grow up healthy and secure, stressing that we have the responsibility of being our brother’s keeper.
Also speaking, Nneoyi Ofem, the state coordinator of Forum of Opinion Leaders, appealed to the Etuboms Traditional Council to stem down the information on social security in the state to their doorstep, because, according to him, information is power.
Eyo Nsa, on his part, lamented on the danger of street children on the streets of Calabar without any show of concern by both government and individuals. “To me, the major social security problem in the state is the street kids which nobody is showing concern about,” he said.
