The Governor of Cross River State, southern Nigeria, Senator Bassey Otu has urged citizens abroad to partner with his administration in driving the state’s transformation agenda.
Governor Otu made the call during a virtual Town Hall organised by the people of Cross River in Diaspora–Canada (CRID-CANADA) and attended by those in the diaspora, government officials, and stakeholders to explore avenues for collaboration.
During the virtual meeting, Governor Otu outlined priority areas of possible collaboration to include health, education, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, and security.
He said “his government was “building firm foundations today so that Cross River State can stand tall tomorrow.”
On healthcare, the Governor welcomed support from diaspora professionals in bridging manpower gaps through medical missions and knowledge transfer.
He also highlighted investments in teacher training, free education and incentives to make agriculture attractive to young people.
Governor Otu stated that, “agriculture is central to food security and youth empowerment. We are working strategically to make farming attractive again.”
He reiterated plans to revive tourism assets and iconic sites such as Tinapa Resort and Kwa Falls, while assuring that security had been strengthened to protect residents, visitors, and investors.
“As a government, we have taken decisive steps to curb crime and communal clashes, creating a safer environment for residents, investors, and visitors,” Governor Otu explained
He maintained that Cross River State remained a prime investment hub with Calabar offering tranquility, orderliness and immense growth potential.
Development partnership
The CRID-CANADA Coordinator, Bassey Bassey, and Chairman of the State Diaspora Commission, Otu Okor called for stronger alignment between diaspora efforts and government priorities.
Bassey stated that, “this is a call to action for diasporans to play a direct role in Cross River’s transformation”, while Okor stressed that “diaspora communities must see themselves as partners in the journey towards prosperity.”
The CRID President, Christopher Lekan, announced that the organisation was proposing a few upcoming initiatives such as Diaspora Day celebration and housing projects for returnees.
Some of the diaspora participants commended the Governor for the engagement and pledged to support his administration’s development agenda.