Mary Slessor Memorial Park

The park is proposed to be developed in memory and honour of Mary Mitchell Slessor, a famous Scottish woman missionary and first female Magistrate in the British Empire who in the course of her missionary works in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria lived and died in 1915 at Use Ikot Oku in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Apart from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and developing the faith of the people, Mary Slessor popularly known as “Ma Slessor” and Mma Akamba” (the highest woman) and “Eka kpukpuru Owo” (the mother all people) opened schools for the education, and hospitals for the health care of the people. She was also described by historians as a “heroic” figure and the intrepid “White Queen of Okoyong”. She joined the campaign with fearless energy against slave trade which had disrupted society and Government. She courageously pioneered the fight against the heathen practice of witchcraft, the poison-bean (esere) ordeal, the murder of twin children and their mother, the sacrifices of slaves, trial by burning oil, stripping and beating of women by Ekpo masquerades and other similar cruelties and barbaric offences.

Ma Slessor was indeed the woman missionary used as District Magistrate by the British Colonial Masters to strictly and humanely strengthen their rule in the South-Eastern Nigeria. Mary was a woman missionary after (who touched) the heart of the people.

The following facilities:

(i)                  Memorial Cairn

(ii)                Sculpture of Mary Slessor (Effigy)

(iii)               Conference Hall/Chapel

(iv)              Library and Clinic

(v)                Hostel/Hotel with state-of-the-arts facilities

(vi)              All facilities of a park-games etc.

The park is open for sponsorship and support for Government. It will be located at the spot (place) where she lives and breathed her last where the land has seen donated for the purpose by the Community. Interested Boards of Missions, Governing Council of Churches, Missionaries, Philanthropists, Churches, Governments, Voluntary Agencies, Private Sector Organizations, NGOs and developers are invited to contact the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, P.M.B. 1177, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria; E-mail: konnsie@yahoo.com.

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND TOURISM

 

The Next Mile

By Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State.

During our first term, May 1999 - May 2002, we focused our energies on laying the proper foundation for sustainable growth and development for our state.  We introduced fundamental economic reforms and embarked on a number of strategic projects with far-reaching implications on the long-term economic well being of our people.  One such project is the Independent Power Plant, IPP, designed to generate 685 megawatts of power from our abundant gas resources. The project is advancing at great speed and we expect that on completion, it will have significant impact on the national power delivery capability.  The Ibom Power project is a precursor to the refining and petrochemical project, which is billed to commence shortly.  Both projects have far reaching implications for our economic transformation. We are building on the gains of these initial efforts. My Administration remains committed to improving infrastructure, building capacity and creating investor-friendly conditions that support efficiency, competition and transparency.  Our telecommunications system has been updated and now provides international standard services.  We are now part of the GSM network.  Our investment in roads development has opened up the state and with it, greater access to new markets in the hinterland.  Click here for more...