L-R: Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Governor Bassey Otu, President, AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his wife at the state banquet in Calabar.
By Anietie Akpan
Partnering African Development Bank (AfDB), Cross River will soon become a major business hub in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
To actualise this, the bank relying on the state’s potentials, Governor Bassey Otu’s action- driven and accountable leadership, is investing in the State’s Bakassi Deepseaport, health, agriculture and other projects.
Speaking at the state banquet organized in his honour on Wednesday, April 9, the President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in a press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, noted that with what Governor Otu has done in partnership with Afrixem Bank for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, Cross River State will soon be a very important logistics and industrial processing hub beyond Nigeria, covering the entire West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Dr. Adesina outlined bold plans to support primary healthcare delivery in addition to the investments they are already promoting in the state with the launch of the Special Agro Processing Zone project (SAPZ).
Adesina expressed excitement over the launch of the SAPZ in Cross River, describing the project as “a game-changer for the state’s economy”.
He commended the leadership qualities of Governor Otu, noting that the Governor is indeed a “passionate, action-driven, and accountable leader, doing so much in infrastructure.”
He therefore pledged substantial investment support for Cross River State’s health and agriculture sectors.
On healthcare, he pledged to support the Governor’s efforts in the revitalization of primary health centres and the state health insurance initiative.
“We will help ensure that primary healthcare centres are not only revitalized but connected digitally to enable seamless access and portability of health records.”
He also advocated for the adoption of a sustainable franchise-based business model for healthcare delivery, designed to improve nationwide access and quality.
In his remarks, Governor Otu reaffirmed his administration’s focus on driving economic independence and reducing overdependence on federal allocations.
He outlined three strategic pillars: security, food security, and energy security, as central to unlocking sustainable development in the state.
Governor Otu revealed that several dormant state-owned assets are being recovered and revitalized, significantly improving investor confidence and making Cross River one of Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.
He also emphasized efforts to integrate Cross River into regional economic corridors with Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea while expanding agricultural productivity through large-scale cocoa, cassava, and other crops.
Reflecting on his recent annual vacation, he joked that he felt “younger and more energized,” ready to intensify efforts towards the state’s transformation.
Otu thanked his deputy governor and cabinet members for their stewardship in his absence and described the state’s progress as divinely inspired.
Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, in his welcome address, celebrated the banquet as a convergence of visionary leadership, describing Governor Otu as a “turbocharged” developer and lauded his commitment to infrastructure and economic growth.
Turning to Dr. Adesina, Duke called him, “Africa’s number one technocrat…Dr. Adesina is not just a leader—he is a divine pathfinder, illuminating Africa’s future,” hailing his landmark initiatives like the electronic wallet for farmers and his legacy of driving agricultural transformation across the continent.
He praised both leaders for their alignment in vision and their dedication to inclusive development.
