UNICEF Confers Posthumous Award On Mary Slessor in Calabar

The contributions of the legendary late Scottish Missionary, Mary Slessor to the cause of the child has been acknowledged by the United Nations Children Fund through the Lighting of her Iconic Statue in Calabar.

The lighting held as part of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of convention of the rights of the child.

Speaking at the Mary Slessor round about while lighting Slessor’s statue, Ibrahim Conteh the Chief of UNICEF field office in Enugu said she promoted women/children right and stopped the common practice of infanticide of twins.

“The choice of Calabar for the UNICEF inspired lighting of an Iconic place was informed by the past and exemplary legacy of Mary Slessor who during her lifetime in Nigeria promoted women’s rights and protection of children.

“She is most famous for having stopped the common practice of infanticide of twins among the Ibibio people, an ethnic group in Southeastern Nigeria, her legacy lives on,” Conteh said

The lighting he said also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of the convention of the rights of the child where kids take over and the world goes blue to call on world leaders to commit to fulfilling the rights of every child and acknowledge that these rights are non-negotiable.

A director in the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, Asi Archibong said the state government is pleased to work with UNICEF in promoting the values and legacy of Slessor.

She said the government is committed to the welfare of the child in Cross River State and this is demonstrated in its domestication of the Child Rights Act in 2009 in the state.