ADVOCACY AWARDS 2026: MAIDEN EDITION HONOURS OUTSTANDING ADVOCATES, UNVEILS ADVOCACY HEADLINES

Senator John Owan-Enoh Urges Cross Riverians to Embrace Advocacy for Sustainable Development

The maiden edition of the Advocacy Awards was held on Thursday at the Pearl Ball Hall, Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, bringing together public officials, community leaders, professionals, media practitioners, entrepreneurs and advocates from Cross River State and beyond.

Held on Nigeria’s Independence Day, the event recognised individuals and institutions for their advocacy, leadership, humanitarian work, professional contributions and community-focused initiatives.

The Advocacy Awards 2026 was established to provide a platform for recognising people who use their voices, positions, resources and influence to promote positive change and contribute to the development of Cross River State.

The event also featured the unveiling of Advocacy Headlines, a new media publication focused on reporting and amplifying stories of impact, leadership, development and advocacy.

MINISTER DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The keynote address was delivered by the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan-Enoh, who spoke on the theme:

“FROM ADVOCACY TO ACTION:

TURNING VOICES INTO IMPACT IN CROSS RIVER STATE”

The minister highlighted the role of constructive advocacy in advancing development, shaping public policy and strengthening relations among government, citizens and development stakeholders.

He said advocacy should extend beyond criticism to include constructive engagement, solution-oriented communication and support for initiatives capable of delivering measurable benefits to communities.

His participation underscored the growing recognition of advocacy as a tool for sustainable development.

AWARDS RECOGNISE CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS SECTORS

The awards recognised contributions in governance and public leadership, community and social impact, education, health, tourism, enterprise, media, environmental advocacy, humanitarian intervention and other areas of public interest.

Recipients were honoured for their commitment to public service, community development, positive influence and causes that extend beyond personal interests.

The organisers described the honourees as examples of how individuals and institutions can use their platforms and resources to promote positive change.

INDEPENDENCE DAY PROVIDED SYMBOLIC SETTING

The organisers said the decision to launch the Advocacy Awards on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, was deliberate.

They said the date represented freedom, responsibility, nation-building and the shared duty of citizens to contribute to societal development.

The organisers added that the awards were conceived not only as a ceremony but also as an initiative to recognise results-driven advocacy and encourage more people to promote positive change.

ADVOCACY HEADLINES UNVEILED

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of Advocacy Headlines, a media platform created to report on individuals, institutions and initiatives making a difference.

The publication is expected to document developments in leadership, community impact and advocacy across Cross River State and beyond.

The organisers said the official Advocacy Headlines news website would be launched in the coming weeks.

CONVENER DESCRIBES INITIATIVE AS FIVE-YEAR PROJECT

The convener, Awade Friday, said the Advocacy Awards emerged from an idea he had developed over several years.

He said he had spent the past five years working to establish a platform that would recognise men and women whose contributions to society merited public acknowledgement.

According to him, the concept became more defined over the past two years and eventually led to the creation of the Advocacy Awards.

He said the initiative was designed to celebrate impact, promote responsible advocacy and encourage greater public participation in community development.

ORGANISERS PLAN TO EXPAND PLATFORM

The maiden edition has introduced a new platform to Cross River’s advocacy and recognition landscape.

The organisers said the initiative would go beyond presenting trophies and certificates by promoting a culture in which effective advocacy is recognised, documented and encouraged.

They added that the successful launch was expected to support future editions, with plans to expand the platform’s reach and strengthen its impact.

The event concluded with a renewed emphasis on the role of advocacy in promoting development and recognising individuals and institutions working to improve society.

The Advocacy Awards has officially begun.