By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – 300 Caribbeans have chosen to be indigenes of Cross River State, Nigeria.
This was disclosed by Otu Okor, Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, on Tuesday, 26th August 2025.
Briefing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar, Okor said the 300 cut across Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, etc.
According to him, they will arrive in the country on 10th October via Lagos and then in Cross River on 11th October.
“In October, we will be hosting 300 diasporans from the Caribbean who lost their places and want to identify as Cross Riverians.
“On the 13th, there will be a courtesy visit to His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, and a banquet.
“Day four, 14th October, will be the official traditional induction for all of them into the Local Government Areas of their choice across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
“Investment summit tagged ‘Invest Cross River 2025’ will hold on day five, 15th October, as some of them are coming with investment to the state.
“A feast and fashion show will be hosted on day six, 16th October, where they will be introduced to different kinds of foods and fashion.
“There will be an exchange programme to move Cross Riverians to the Caribbean, like Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, to study, and to bring students from there to study here too. That programme will be held on 17th October and there will be musical performances also.
“A Thanksgiving service tagged ‘Reconciliation Service’ will be held on the 19th of October. We are also going to have a Carnival Parade and that day is the first dry run as well,” Okor stated.
The Diaspora Commission Chairman said there is going to be a first-ever Diaspora Convention in November (to be held between 16-18 November in London, United Kingdom), adding that a day has been set aside for the Cross River State Diaspora Day in December.
“The Cross River State Diaspora Day has been gazetted and is now part of the Tourism and Festival Calendar. All these programmes are economically driven,” Okor added.
He also listed other activities to include the commissioning of the Diaspora Commission office at 77 MCC Road, on 3rd September, and market day on 18th October, involving all local government areas showcasing what they have – craft, food, culture, etc.
In her remarks, Archibong Bassey, State Chairman of the NUJ, lauded the Commission for taking such bold moves to improve the economy of the state.
“By the time the state economy is improved, it will spill out to the nation, especially the exchange summit,” Bassey said, promising to give the event the utmost coverage.
