By Eteteonline
Sen. Princess Florence Ita-Giwa (Eka Iban ke Esien Efik Duop-Eba) was born on February 19, 1946, in Atabong, Bakassi Local Government Area, Cross River State. After attending London, UK’s Kilburn Polytechnic, she obtained a professional nursing degree. In Nigeria, she worked for Beecham Pharmaceutical and Standall Pharmaceutical Companies.
In both her private and public spheres, Princess Florence Ita Giwa has made outstanding contributions to the development of the country. In partisan politics, she has advanced Cross River State and Nigeria significantly. During the disastrous Third Republic (1992–93), she was first elected to the House of Representatives. She was a member of the Committee on Devolution of Power, Constituent Assembly from 1994 to 1995.
After being elected to the Senate in April 1999 for the Cross River South Senatorial District, Princess Ita-Giwa was assigned to the Rules and Procedures, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Women, Niger Delta, and Drug & Narcotics committees.
She was named President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Advisor on National Assembly Matters in 2003 after she left the Senate. She has been a frontline politician who was a Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority Board. She was chosen to represent Cross River State at the 2014 Constitutional Conference in Abuja because of her well-known public persona and societal influence in Nigeria.
Princess-turned-senator Ita-Giwa is a social justice advocate and philanthropist. She has given motherless children and other underprivileged members of society a significant amount of humanitarian support. She has a lengthy history of supporting widows and disadvantaged families, empowering women, and helping impoverished children with their education. Senator Ita-Giwa has fought against sex slavery and human trafficking. She led the Bakassi relocation operations and acted as an advocate for displaced populations. Her humanitarian aid to Bakassi’s displaced population earned her the sobriquet “Mama Bakassi.”
A few years ago, the women of Cross River State, led by Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, honoured Senator Princess Florence Ita-Giwa, a seasoned politician, prominent industrialist, business mogul, and former Presidential Adviser, for her exceptional contributions to the emancipation of womanhood and her priceless contributions to the political, social, and economic development of the state and the country. The event, which drew the best of society, was held at Calabar’s Studio Tinapa.
While speaking at the occasion in Calabar labeled “Celebrating our Amazon” the former Nigerian First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’adua, complimented the wisdom of Mrs. Obioma Imoke and women in the state for recognizing the achievements of Princess Ita-Giwa in a male-dominated culture. Hajia Yar’adua, who was represented by the wife of former Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Josphine Elechi maintained that the standard set by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa will continue to remain a reference point in government and enjoined Nigerians to cultivate the attitude of honouring achievers during their lifetime.
Speaking also, the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, characterized Senator Florence Ita-Giwa as dogged and a star brand whose dint of hard work had produced remarkable results, adding that the state is privileged to produce another outstanding lady after late Mrs. Margaret Ekpo. Senator Imoke dwelt on the patriotic fervor and passion of Princes Ita-Giwa in the House of Representatives, the Senate and Presidency as well as the struggle for the welfare of Bakassi indigenes
The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in his message delivered by his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, praised Senator Ita-Giwa as a role model and one of the first sets of female Senators in the country whose devotion for the country should not be in vain.
Mrs. Obioma Imoke was congratulated for honouring the achievements of Princess Ita-Giwa. The initiator of the grand reception said in her welcome address that women resolved to honour Senator Ita-Giwa in view of the fact she has been outstanding and unequalled in diverse undertakings as a nurse, industrial medical secretary, philanthropist, politician and supporter of tourism by her leadership of the Seagull Band. Mrs. Imoke said the state was proud of her and her achievements and so thought it important to acknowledge and celebrate her during her lifetime. She praised women for showing up in force to attend the event.
In her response, the celebrant, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, thanked the state’s women and citizens, especially Mrs. Obioma Imoke, for recognizing her as deserving of this honour at a time when politicians are rarely honoured and praised the state’s gender-sensitive stance that allows women to reach higher goals.
Goodwill messages were delivered at the ceremony by the Senate President, who was represented by Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw of the Cross River South Senatorial District and Senator Victor Ndoma Egba. The event was also attended by Senator Ita-Giwa’s colleagues, the state deputy governor, Mr. John Odey, the former environment minister, the Obong of Calabar, the former state PDP chairman, and others.
She is still involved in politics at the age of 80 and is still healthy, lively, and beautiful. She was named Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic’s Governing Board in Ugep, Cross River State, in 2024.
She has won the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON ) and The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award.
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