Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, four Cross River women, Offiong Ani Offiong, Caroline Asikpo-Edet, Yibala Akpama Edimek, and Blessing Ayuk Ojong Tangban are among distinguished Nigerian women who made the sterling list of “Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women”, 2025 edition.
This was disclosed in a statement in Abuja by the editors of the compendium, Kammonke Abam, Tammie Edet-Kammonke, and Steve Ogah
Offiong is listed in acknowledgment of her outstanding career success, rising to the pinnacle of her civil service career as Permanent Secretary, a position she is using to initiate reforms in the Ministry of Information where she is posted to. She is also the Chairman, Cross River State Policy on Information Implementation Committee.
Caroline Asikpo-Edet is listed for her exceptional diligence, integrity, accountability, and a citizen-centred approach to her duties that has earned her the distinguished appointment of Permanent Secretary in Cross River State. She also served as Desk Officer for several donor-assisted programmes such as FGN/ IFAD/NDDC/Community based Natural Resources Management Programme in Niger Delta States, contributing to Cross River State winning the best state Award amongst the nine Niger Delta states.
Yibala Akpama Edimek on the other hand, is a distinguished medical consultant who stands as a paragon of dedication, innovation, and transformative leadership in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A highly skilled Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing maternal and reproductive health in Nigeria and beyond.
Her inclusion is coming on the heels of her recent extraordinary milestone of being honored with the Bello Osagie Prize for the Overall Best Candidate at the West African College of Surgeons Fellowship Exams in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Blessing Ayuk Ojong Tangban, is listed in acknowledgment of her immense accomplishments including being the Co-founder of Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State. A seasoned educationist, Tangban is also the Proprietor, B Steadyflow School, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja. She is a published author.
The annual biographical compendium which is jointly published by Gender Perspectives in Development, a gender-focused NGO; and Profiles & Biographies, Nigeria’s leading biographical compendium consultancy firm, serves as Nigeria’s most qualitative compendium that profiles outstanding women across different frontiers and they include innovators, barrier-breakers, activists, top bureaucrats, captains of industry, and celebrities.
The compendium is usually unveiled March 8, as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day, IWD. This year’s theme is “‘Accelerate Action”, spotlighting the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
