By Patrick Obia and Gift Ikpete
Mary Slessor Memorial and Heritage Foundation and her adopted daughters are set to launch a new foundation in her honor.
This was disclosed by a body who paid a courtesy visit to the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) where they averred that the purpose for the launch of the foundation is to keep memory and efforts of the Scottish missionary who fought tirelessly to stop the killings of twins in Calabar and nearby States.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Adim Gabriel, said that it is to immortalize her and support vulnerable children in the State.
He therefore called on the State Government, international agencies, individuals as well as stakeholders to take advantage of the program to support the foundation.
“Mary Slessor Memorial and Heritage Foundation is an initiative of true descendants of Mary Mitchell Slessor, the Scottish missionary who came into Nigeria precisely into Cross River State to do a very wonderful work that today have become of the reference point. Of course that was known in this part of the country; it was through her effort in that aspect has been put to place.
“So, today it has become something necessary after wide consultations; the family, the stakeholders, the Presbyterian Church. The family thought that they cannot allow the effort of this woman to just go in that way, so we should just do something that will immortalized her , something that can bring back her ideas. Mary Slessor memorial and heritage foundation officially will be launch on the 12 of December 2019.
“It is going to be a landmark event that will climax with a ceremonial laying of ripe at her tomb and after which we will precede to Transcorp for the official unveiling of the foundation. The foundation is aimed at promoting the historical landmark of Mary Slessor; like we want to bring in a compendium of activities of Mary Slessor in Nigeria and as well as to support vulnerable children, basically that is what this organization is aimed at doing. It is going to be very very robust and very important. We use this opportunity to call on people, stakeholders, Government, international agencies to take advantage of this program” Adim said.
Responding to the visit, the ACROJ Chairman, Comrade Darlington Edem, lauded the initiative of the foundation adding that Association of Cross River Online Journalists will give her total support of foundation to ensure it is a success.
“We want to get not just the time of the Federal Government but the international communities and when that is done we will also look and say yes, we were part of this success story of this course. we will work with all other media houses in the State, we will reach out to them and tell them about the need to actually look into this important course. I will like you all to go with that.”
Earlier, Jean Mc Arthur Slessor and Nee Barbara Slessor both grand children of late elder Daniel Henryson Mc Arthur Slessor, an adopted son of the Scottish missionary, journeyed on a memory lane and how their late grandfather was saved and adopted by Mary Mitchell Slessor on her missionary expedition to Calabar and beyond.
The official launching is set for 12th December, 2019 at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar by 10AM.
High point of the visit include interaction and group photograph.
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