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By Sunday Ani
Novelty football match between Watt Market Traders and Marian Market Traders in honour of Rev. Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu at 60
The UJ Esuene Stadium recently came alive as market women from two major markets in the city of Calabar, Marian and Watt markets, locked horns in a thrilling and entertaining novelty football match to celebrate Rev. Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, wife of the governor on her The event was organized as part of the activities to celebrate and honour Mrs. Otu for her outstanding role in galvanizing women in the state through her various pet projects.
The game between Marian Market and Watt Market women provided 60 minutes of ecstasy and fun for everyone present at the stadium. The commentary added to the excitement as adjectives such as “water leaf seller,” “crayfish seller,” “Mama garri moves to counter” were used.
Governor Bassey Otu accompanied by his wife, Eyoanwan, were part of the audience that watched the thrilling encounter.
Thrilled by the game which ended 1-0 in favour of Marian Market women, the governor’s wife declared at the end of the match that there was no victor, no vanquished and gave equal prize money of N50,000 each to the teams in support of the business of every participating player in the match.
Even though the winner’s cup was handed to Marian Market women, the governor’s wife maintained that what the women displayed was genuine show of love and support for the administration of her husband, the state governor.
She promised to ensure that market women are captured in programmes of government that improve their welfare and wellbeing.
There were also cultural displays and music dance session during the halftime of the match.
In her comment, the team captain of the Marian Market women, who gave her name as Grace, a garri trader, noted that Otu’s government has indeed been friendly with the market women because it has among other things provided public amenities in the market and has reduced daily market toll.
There was also free medical check up at the stadium offered to the general public during and after the match .
In another activity held before the novelty match at the Women Development Center, Calabar, the governor’s wife feted the less privileged children who gathered as part of the activities to mark her birthday.
Amidst laughter and music, the children received vital medical check-ups, treatments and thoughtful gifts.
Addressing the children, the Cross River State First Lady reaffirmed her support for the well being, education, sports and health of children in the state.
She announced scholarships for the less privileged children who are eager to return to school, adding that through her pet projects such as “Humanity Without Borders,” vocational studies’ opportunities, shelter homes are available towards empowering the less privileged.
