A new advocacy platform, Advocacy Headlines, has been launched in Cross River State to promote solution-driven advocacy, document community impact and draw greater public attention to leadership and initiatives contributing to development.
The platform was unveiled on Sunday in Calabar at the maiden edition of the Advocacy Awards 2026, where individuals and institutions were recognised for their contributions to public service, humanitarian work, community development and other causes considered to have advanced the interests of society.
Convener of the initiative, Awade Friday, said the platform was conceived to move advocacy beyond criticism by creating a system for identifying, documenting and encouraging individuals and institutions using their positions, resources and influence to drive positive change.
Awade said the Advocacy Awards was the product of an idea he had nurtured for about five years, adding that the concept became more defined over the past two years before culminating in the establishment of the platform and awards.
He said the initiative was designed to “promote a culture where effective advocacy is recognised, documented and encouraged,” stressing that the project would go beyond the presentation of trophies and certificates.
According to him, Advocacy Headlines would provide a platform for reporting developments in leadership, community impact, humanitarian interventions and advocacy across Cross River State and beyond.
He disclosed that the platform’s official news website would be launched in the coming weeks, describing it as part of efforts to ensure that impactful initiatives receive sustained public attention and are properly documented.
Awade said the awards were targeted at individuals and institutions whose contributions extend beyond personal interests, noting that the recipients had demonstrated commitment to public service, community development and causes capable of producing positive change.
“The Advocacy Awards recognise individuals and institutions for their advocacy, leadership, humanitarian work, professional contributions and community-focused initiatives,” he said.
He explained that the choice of October for the inaugural awards was deliberate, as the month provides an opportunity to reflect on the values of freedom, responsibility, nation-building and the obligation of citizens to contribute to societal development.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan-Enoh, urged Cross River residents to see advocacy not merely as a means of criticising government but as an instrument for achieving sustainable development.
Speaking on the theme, “From Advocacy to Action: Turning Voices Into Impact in Cross River State,” Owan-Enoh said constructive advocacy could influence public policy, strengthen relationships between government and citizens and advance development at the community level.
“We must embrace advocacy as a tool for sustainable development. It helps to advance community development, shape public policy and strengthen relations between government, citizens and other development stakeholders,” the minister said.
Owan-Enoh said effective advocacy should be anchored on constructive engagement, solution-oriented communication and support for initiatives capable of producing measurable benefits for communities.
He urged stakeholders to translate public concerns and advocacy into practical action, stressing that the ultimate measure of advocacy should be its ability to contribute to tangible improvements in the lives of the people.
