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Tag: #Inyang Asibing

  • Cross River: UNHCR Pledges To Strengthen Humanitarian Support To Thousands Of Refugees From Cameroon.

    Cross River: UNHCR Pledges To Strengthen Humanitarian Support To Thousands Of Refugees From Cameroon.

     

    By Admin

    The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has promised strengthening of humanitarian support services to thousands of refugees from Cameroon residing in various parts of communities across Cross River State.

    Statistics made available to our correspondent reveal that there are over 38,000 Cameroonian refugees living at Etung, Akamkpa, Obanliku, Bakassi, Calabar, Ikom, Boki, Ogoja and Obudu communities and are facing various challenges. These refugees fled from Southern Cameroon following in-fighting between the Cameroonian government and some freedom fighters from Southern Cameroon.
    Since then, the UN Refugee Agency has supported the Cross River government by rehabilitating and upgrading public facilities including health, education and WASH as well as distributing non-food items, food, medicine, tools, and farm implements to the refugees and host communities.
    Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, in her office in Calabar at the weekend, the UNHCR Head of Sub-Office Ogoja, Mr Tesfaye Bekele, commended the State government for their commitment towards providing humanitarian services to the refugees and advocated for continuous support.
    Bekele promised to work in synergy with the coordinating ministry and other MDAs to deliver their mandate in line with the vision and mission of the organization to the people of Cross River.
    In her response, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the State government is committed to providing succour to the refugees residing across the communities in the State.
    She explained that the population of the refugees have been overwhelming and assured the team of the government’s readiness to partner with them in playing a role in humanitarian services and other areas as requested by MIDC as the coordinating partner.

  • #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Government has received support from the World Bank after the destruction of properties during the #EndSars protest  by hoodlums that took place in Calabar on Oct. 23 and 24.

    After the destruction, the state government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation had approached the World Bank to render support to the state, especially in the delivery units of the World Bank Assisted Programme, CARES, which is scheduled to commence very soon in the state.

    The items donated include furniture, 20 seater conference chairs, air conditioners and inverters, laptop computers and printers, virtual meeting equipment, hybrid inverter with solar among many others.

    Speaking after distributing the equipment to the different units, the Commissioner for MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, expressed happiness with the gesture from the World Bank, saying that the distribution was coming at the first day of resumption of duties in the year.

    She explained that two result areas of the Ministry, FADAMA and EDF were badly affected during the protest and all the items were destroyed by hoodlums.

    According to her, the items will go a long way to enable the staff of the result areas to get back to work in preparation for the CARES programme.

    “The CARES is COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus of the government. It is going to be a state owned project and Gov. Ben Ayade is so committed about improving the lives of residents in the state.

    “We know that the poverty index in Nigeria is 40.1, and this is really high. Cross River is lower than the national average, 36.3, we want to further reduce that our percentage to at least a single digit.

    “I want to thank the World Bank for coming to our aid at this point in time, and we can assure them we will make the best use of these equipment,” she said.

    Also Speaking, Mr Fidel Udie, the Acting General Manager of Community and Social Development Agency, said that the donation confirms the good working relationship between the state government and the World Bank.

    Udie said that the donation will now put the state in a good position to participate in the CARES programme, which is a World Bank Assisted Programme.

    “These programme is basically meant to target the poor and vulnerable in the society. Of course, without these agencies and their platforms been able to have their working tools and be ready for the implementation of the programme, the state cannot join other states for the programme.

    “Gov. Ayade was able to follow up with the World Bank and here we have these equipment to help the delivery units to be ready for this programme,” he said.

    He mentioned the platforms benefiting from the equipment to include; CSDA, the state coordinating unit, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Smart City, Public Work Fare and the state Cash Transfer Unit.

  • C’River Set To Partner NASME For The Development Of Small Scale Businesses

    C’River Set To Partner NASME For The Development Of Small Scale Businesses

     

    The Cross River State Government has expressed its readiness to partner the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) to develop small and medium scale businesses in the state.

    Governor Ben Ayade made this known in Calabar the cross river state capital, assured the group that his government has put institutional frameworks in collaboration to develop small medium enterprises.

    Ayade who was represented by the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong said the visit of the group will provide a forum for interaction, and adoption of a concerted approach to issues of strategic importance to the development of MSMEs in the state.

    In her words “NASME is the only Nigerian private sector -led BMO affiliated to the World Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (WASME) enjoying consultative status with the United Nations.

    “Cross River State is proud to associate with NASME because of its strategic importance and status as a unit of Business Membership Organization (BMO) assisted through strategic collaborations with UNIDO, UNDP, IFC, Federal Ministries, several embassies and bilateral Chambers of Commerce on its various projects.

    “Our vision and mission to make Cross River State a one stop Business Hub through various variables introduced as part of Ease of Doing Business Strategy, requires NASME”

    The NASME State Chairman, Mr James Alicha who was ably represented by Mrs Ekaete Ukpong and her team member, Chineye Uzor amongst others said the group was committed to further advancing the state brand by providing high-quality and responsive services in building and strengthening partnerships in order to change the mindset of small scale business owners in Cross River.

    The visit was attended by Hon. Marjorie Asuquo – Special Adviser to the Governor on Enterprise Funding, Sir John Odo, DG – CRGIA and Mr Julius Agrinya of Smart City Network amongst other top Government appointees.