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Tag: #Ivara Esu

  • Dr Ekpenyong Congratulates Ayade On Validated Victory over Defection

    Dr Ekpenyong Congratulates Ayade On Validated Victory over Defection

     

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has congratulated the State Governor and His Deputy over the validation of their Defection to the ruling All Progressive Congress by an Abuja High Court, today April 7th 2022 describing it as a “mandate to Purpose Fulfilling Mission”.

    In a Press State Issued and Signed by the Director General, she described the purported failed and premature ejection of the State Governor and His Deputy as a divine authentication procedure meant to solidify the identity of the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade as one of the most loved leaders in the history of Cross River State, urged him to remain committed in the actualization of his goals which is aimed at enhancing the lives of Cross Riverians.

    She used the opportunity to thank the state Governor for his numerous life enhancing programs in the Health sector which has signalled a revolutionary trend across the Country since his inauguration in 2015, urging the state to show support especially in the forthcoming Outbreak response against Poliomyelitis slated for 9th – 14th of April 2022.

    “Total, history is made in Cross River State as the Judiciary did not only stand for the truth and proclaimed it’s unbiased opinion to the issue of Defection and other constitutional rights of Citizens, but it solidified the image of the state Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade as one of the most loved, cherished and celebrated leaders in the state and the Country at large.

    The Unprecedented wave of support from party men and concerned citizens is an equivocal evidence that, truth cannot remain unspoken and a shinning light can never be hidden especially at a moment when the nation needs the expertise of visionary leaders like His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade.

    He has shown all of these magnanimity in the innovations in the Health sector and as of today, Cross River State has become a model for national programs implementation seeing to the ever growing quest for Universal Health Coverage.

    Since 2015, the state has witnessed reduced rate of child and maternal mortality, improved healthcare Facility utilization, increased enrollment and Community acceptability of our programs, to this light, I wish to remind all of our parents and caregivers of the forthcoming Outbreak Response Campaign Against Poliomyelitis coming up for our children within the ages of 0-5 years old in this month of April, we hope our children will partake in this History making Court Judgement by receiving doses of vaccines and other suplimentary products”.

    Once Again, Congratulations His Excellencies, Senator Ben Ayade and Professor Ivara Esu.

    Dr Janet Ekpenyong
    Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency

  • UNFPA Has Been Supportive To C’River Govt, Deputy Governor Affirms

    UNFPA Has Been Supportive To C’River Govt, Deputy Governor Affirms

    By Admin

    The Cross River State deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu has expressed delight at the activities of the United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA). He said the UN agency has been a great support to Cross River State.

    He made the remarks while launching the 2021 UNFPA State of the World Population (SWOP) Report held at the State Government’s Exco Chambers in Calabar. He appreciated the UN for their support in different areas of their mandate.

    He particularly said that “UNFPA has been consistent in working towards ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet needs for family planning and ending all forms of Gender Based Violence and harmful practices against women and girls.”

    The deputy governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Tina Agbor Banko opined that Cross River State will not relent in rolling out support for the UN body in achieving her dreams in the state.

    He said: “Today as we launch UNFPA’s flagship report on the State of the World Population (SWOP), it is pertinent to reiterate the State Government’s position and commitment in joining hands with relevant agencies to ensure that Cross River State is free from harmful practices against girls and elimination of sexual violence and other inequalities.

    “From the report, it shows that hundreds of millions of women and girls around the World do not own their bodies and their lives are governed by others. In Cross River, the practice of ‘money marriage’ has been abolished as our girls in the northern part of the state are no more subjected to such a practice. Ours is an inclusive agenda to ensure that the rights of our women and girls are protected hence the involvement/interaction with our traditional institutions to give it the much needed attention it deserves.”

    He used the medium to appreciate UNFPA for their support and commitment to the healthcare of Cross Riverians through the provision of medical supplies, upgrading of the School of Midwifery and the Fistula Centre at the General Hospital in Calabar and for establishing and equipping of youth friendly centres in the state which he affirmed to have served as safe spaces for the young people.

    Speaking with journalists shortly after the event, the UNFPA Head of Cross River Sub-Office, Dr. Omolaso Omosehin said UNFPA is working towards achieving 3 transformative goals by 2030. He noted that the SWOP report is an annual report published by UNFPA.

    In his words: “The State of the World Population Report is a publication that is launched by UNFPA every year since 1978. In the report, we seek to draw attention to reproductive health, where we highlight issues that concern the health of women and girls. For this year we’re looking at the bodily autonomy of the women because we believe that it’s a fundamental human right for every women and for every girl to own their own body and decide what they want to do with their own body.

    “It also seeks to bring the attention of the World that issues like female genital mutilation and cutting should be avoided because it has not only medical implications, it has physical implications and but it’s is also a violation of the fundamental human rights of the girl”.

    In her goodwill message, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Donor Corporation, Dr Inyang Asibong lauded UNFPA for being a formidable tool in ensuring that issues affecting women in the state are brought to the barest minimum. She added that the ministry will always support the team whenever the need arises.

    The theme for the 2021 SWOP report is, “My body is my own: claiming the right to autonomy and self-determination”. The report shows that Gender-unequal norms and attitudes lead to power imbalances in relationships that restrict women’s decisions, particularly when it comes to saying no to sex.

    It also reveals that patriarchal beliefs often translate into expectations that women defer to their husbands or partners in all aspects of their lives, including their sex lives, adding that these expectations may not only mean that a woman should always
    engage in sex whenever her husband wants it, but also that she should not initiate sex or openly express her desires.

  • C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    BY admin

    The Cross River Government has inaugurated the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) committee to steer the activities of the programme in the state for the next two years.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, who inaugurated the team on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the project was timely and coming at a time where the Nation’s economic needed to be stimulated with various programmes.

    CARES is a World Bank Assisted programme which is supported by the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria, designed to stimulate the economy.

    According to him, with the coming in of the programme which is scheduled to start by April, the state will consolidate on the gains and reduce her poverty rate of 36.3 to at least, a single digit.

    He cited the destruction of properties in government offices and private homes in Calabar during the #EndSars protest on Oct. 24, 2020 as one of the factors that has further created poverty in the state.

    “I want to specially commend members of this committee and especially the Chairman of the committee, Dr Inyang Asibong, who is the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation for her drive in making this programme a reality in the state,” he said.

    Earlier in her opening speech, Dr Asibong mentioned the benefiting areas to include CSDA, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Livelihood, Public Work Fare and the State Cash Transfer Unit.

    She explained that the focus of the programme was to help in the recovery of the economy by way of collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders who have been identified to play certain roles.

    “In the area of public work fare, we are going to get youths, both skilled and unskilled, to be meaningful engaged so that they can earn a living.

    “For the Cash Transfer Unit, pregnant women, the vulnerable and physically challenged persons will also benefit from this platform.

    “Also, the FADAMA project will cater for the provision of input to farmers among many other beneficiaries,” she said.

    She commended Gov. Ben Ayade for placing premium on intervention programmes in the state, adding that the state was ready for the implementation of the programme

    Mr Toni Ikpeme, Board Chairman of Community and Social Development Agency, who spoke on behalf of members of the committee, assured that they were going to give in their best in order to achieve the mandate of programme.

    Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Okon Owuna,

    Other members are; Commissioner for Youths and Skill Development, Mr Signor Omang-Idiege, Mrs Marjorie Asuquo, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise Development Funding, Mr Gabriel Adah, Director General of Cross River Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency and Mrs Monique Ogon, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise.

    Also in the committee are, Mr Victor Edet, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on International Development, Mrs Kate Ajibike, Special Adviser, Community Development Enterprise and Mr Felix Ita, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of International Development Cooperation.

  • 2020 World AIDS Day: C’River Commemorates Day With A Walk, Advocates Measures To Reduce Prevalence Rate

    2020 World AIDS Day: C’River Commemorates Day With A Walk, Advocates Measures To Reduce Prevalence Rate

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Government has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 world AIDS day with a walk and a call on citizens to take advantage of routine counselling, testing and Anti-retroviral use for those who are already infected to ensure that the state prevalence is less than that of national prevalence ratio Which is currently at 1.4%.

    Flagging off the exercise in Calabar, the Cross River State Deputy Governor Professor Ivara Esu said the state Government is committed to actualizing a reduction in new infectious rate through the development and adoption of policies which grant full access to Improved living and halt to new transmission.

    Professor Esu who commended the state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade and other stakeholders in the health sector for the low prevalence rate in the state, encouraged the team to build on the gains of recent successes and work towards improving on the indices through awareness creation and improved client’s services.

    Professor said the state is poised to ensuring that in less than no time there would be zero percent transmission of HIV/AIDs in Cross River State as the state has decentralized it’s response program through the setting up of Local Government and Community based response platform to meet the needs of Cross Riverians.

    Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for health, Dr Betta Edu encouraged everyone to get tested as she noted that, “the state in collaboration with partners have introduced an oral test kit to minimize piercing which is another method of HIV/AIDs transmission”

    Speaking to newsmen after the completion of the 10 kilometers walk, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong urged Cross Riverians to ensure that they know their HIV/AIDs status

    Dr Ekpenyong said, a HIV/AIDS generation is possible if all hands are put on deck as well as supports for victims are offered, She urged pregnant women to always visit primary health care Facilities for antenatal care services in order to know their status and prevent mother to child transmission.

    On her part, the Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the control of AIDS, Dr Ansa Echeri admonished people to regularly present themselves for testing as she noted that HIV is not a death sentence but early detection can improve chances of a healthy lifestyle and building of resistance against other common diseases.

    HIV/AIDs can be transmitted from persons to persons through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of sharp objects like needles, razors, injections among others with blood transfusion being listed among the possible ways of infection.

    1. The event was witnessed by the speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Eteng Jones as well as the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Dr. Ekpo Bassey with partners and other stakeholders in attendance.
  • Obanliku Council Chairman Hosts Officials Of National Boundary Commission, Deputy Governors Of Cross River And Benue States.

    Obanliku Council Chairman Hosts Officials Of National Boundary Commission, Deputy Governors Of Cross River And Benue States.

    By John Akpo

    The Executive Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council, Evang. Mrs. Margaret Inde, on November 9th, 2020 hosted of officials of the National Boundary commission (NBC), Deputy Governors of Cross River and Benue States, to flag off the boundary verification exercise.

    The verification exercise is however expected is expected to be followed by planting of beacons to bring permanent peace in the affected areas of dispute between the two states.

    The event was held the Obanliku Local Government Secretariat.

    The council boss had on November 8th, 2020, welcomed the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu, and his entourage, the Chairman of NBC and other delegation at the Obudu Mountain Resort.

  • National Boundary Commission Inaugurates Joint Technical Team And flags off A Verification Exercise On Benue – Cross River Boundaries.

    National Boundary Commission Inaugurates Joint Technical Team And flags off A Verification Exercise On Benue – Cross River Boundaries.

    By Richard Abu

    The National Boundary Commission (NBC), today 8th November, 2020, inaugurated a Joint Field Technical Team and flagged-off the Field Verification Exercise on the Benue – Cross River inter-state boundaries in Sankwala, Obanliku LGA.

    The exercise comes on the heels of the resolution of the joint meeting of officials of the two states with the National Boundary Commission, held on the 9th of October 2020 in Abuja.

    The Joint Technical Committee Committee inaugurated include: the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Surveyor General of Cross River and Benue States, the Deputy Governors of Cross River and Benue states, representatives of the affected local government areas of the two states amongst others.

    Declaring the exercise open, the Director General of NBC, Surveyor Adamu Adaji stated that the boundary between the two states was only for administrative purposes and not to stop the interaction between the two states. He further sued for cooperation from indigenes of the two states to achieve a successful verification exercise.

    On his part, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State who also doubles as the Chairman of the State Border Committee, his Excellency Prof. Ivara Esu, welcomed the NBC DG and other delegates and his Benue counterpart to the event, stressed the importance of the exercise and reemphasized that the exercise is to demarcate the boundary and not to create a barrier between the two states.

    In his words “the boundary between Cross River and Benue is not as complex as we have in other states as pillars are already in place; this exercise is to verify those already existing pillars and plant new ones where they don’t exist”

    Similarly, the Deputy Governor of Bunue State/Chairman of Benue State Border Committee, Engr. Benson Abounu thanked the people of the two states for their peaceful coexistence over the years stating that despite the reoccurring skirmishes, his people and that of Cross River State share culture, inter-marry and trade together peacefully.

    He further sued for peace and cooperation from the people especially Youth of the two states during the exercise.

    In their separate remarks, the traditional rulers of Vandeikya and Obanliku Local Governments thanked the Federal, Cross River and Benue States governments for putting heads together to see to a lasting solution to boundary issues between the two states.

    The traditional rulers further assured the technical team of their people’s utmost cooperation during and after the exercise.

    The occasion was also graced by the Chairmen of the affected local governments in Cross River State including Hon. Eraye Ewhe of Obudu, Evan. Margaret Inde of Obanliku, Dr. Joe Owan of Bekwarra, Barr. Fabian Ogbeche of Yala and their counterparts from Vandeikya, Kwande, Konshisha and Oju local governments of Benue State.

    Also in attendance were the representative of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surveyor Generals of the two States, the Hon. Commissioner for Education Cross River, Dr. Godwin Amanke, the DG Bordercom Cross River State, Mr. Noel Ugbong, the Hon. Commissioner of Boundaries Benue state, Royal fathers from the affected local government areas amongst others.

    The exercise is expected run through the 22nd of November, 2020 along the boundary flashpoints between the two states.

  • God Used The Ayades To Make Me Chairman Of Obanliku Local Government Council – Margaret Inde

    God Used The Ayades To Make Me Chairman Of Obanliku Local Government Council – Margaret Inde

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council, Evangelist Mrs. Margaret Inde, has stated that God used the Ayades to perfect his plans of making her Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council.

    The Chairman disclosed this during the thanksgiving service held in her honor at Message Point Assembly, No. 199 Parliamentary Road, Calabar on Sunday October 11th, 2020.

    In her words “I want to thank God for this day, indeed God is still using his own to perfect his plans. I would not have become Chairman of Obanliku if not for my dear mothers, Dr. Linda Ayade and Mrs. Elizabeth Frank Ayade. I was at this alter praying and asking God to have his way, while here praying, the wife of the Governor was busy calling and asking me if all was OK with me. They ensured that everything went according to God’s plan.

    “Prior to the election, I had a dream that President Umaru Musa Yaradua of blessed memory, visited Calabar, and in that dream, he singled me out and asked me to come to him at the podium and I did, he made me sat beside him. After the function he came for, he flown me to Abuja, gave me a position and showed me a mansion to live in, that was the libration for me.

    “When I woke up and realized it was a dream, at first I wasn’t comfortable, and couldn’t believe myself, but I had to believe God and waited for the appointed time, and that time is now.

    “I see that God has used the Ayades in place of the late Yaradua, the former President of this country. I want to thank God for a dream come true.

    “I’m grateful first to God Almighty for his magnanimity and love towards me for this opportunity to serve my people in spite of my unworthiness, secondly to the Ayade family for the support and believe in me, in fact, I am a foster child of the Ayades. Also, my parents in the Lord, Apostle and Mrs. Bassey Udosen who have always prayed and prophesied for me.

    “I had another dream when God told me that I was going to build a house for him, and I asked myself, how can a civil servant whose salary was just seventy thousand naira build a house for God.

    “I didn’t know that God has something great for me and that he will provide the fulcrum for me to begin this project of building a temple for the Lord, it is on this premise that I want to call on you all who have identified with me today in thanksgiving to the Lord to join me to support the building of this church”

    Earlier, Apostle Bassey Udosen, admonished the congregation to utilize the opportunity they have while still alive for the service of God and mankind.

    He noted that nothing will be important when we breath the last, are the things we did while we were alive. He charged all present to consider living a life of impartation and good deeds.

    The man of God used the opportunity and prayed for Governor Ben Ayade and his Deputy as well as the Chairman of Obanliku, Evangelist Mrs. Margaret Inde, he asked for God’s guidance, and that his favours and grace to directs her affairs as she steers the ship of Obanliku local government council to an enviable height.

    The Deputy of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu, joined the Chairman of Obanliku local government council in thanksgiving and made a donation for the church building project.

    Also, the wife of the Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade was visibly filled with with joy to be in the Lord’s presence and used the opportunity to pray God Almighty to grant the Chairman whose emergence is a manifestation of his plan, the grace to complete the work he (God) has started in the life of his dear daughter, Evangelist Mrs. Margaret Inde. She further joined the Deputy Governor and made a contribution to the church building project.

    The thanksgiving was graced by numerous friends, fans, supporters, PDP party faithfuls, Council Chairmen of the 17 local government areas, well wishers of the Chairman too numerous to mention who made their donations to support the church building project.

  • Obudu Local Government Chairman Calls On National Boundary Commission To Use The 1914 Lord Lugard Boundary Line For Proper Demarcation

    Obudu Local Government Chairman Calls On National Boundary Commission To Use The 1914 Lord Lugard Boundary Line For Proper Demarcation

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon. Boniface Ewhe has called on the National Boundary Commission NBC, to use the 1914 boundary line and bacon to properly demarcate the boundary between Benue and Cross River states to curb the incessant communal disputes between the two states.

    Hon. Ewhe made the call during the stakeholders meeting with the Cross River State Boundary Committee today, October 2nd in Government House, Calabar, in preparation for an enlarged meeting with the National Boundary Commission NBC, in Abuja.

    The Chairman named the communities affected by the lingering communal skirmishes with the Benue counterparts to include; Abonkib, Igwo, Ukwortung, Mgbenege and Ukpirinyi.

    The Chairman expressed disenchantment over the rate of destruction suffered by his people owing to the Federal Government’s inability to join the coordinates of the boundary line where beacons were not planted, Which makes it easy for the Benue counterparts to trespass and cause havoc. He however commended the steadfastness and resolve of his people to maintain law and order, while they await the intervention of the National Boundary Commission.

    The Chairman used the opportunity to commend the Chairman of the National Boundary Commission NBC, for his resolve to find lasting solution to the interstate incessant communal clashes, and charged the commission to give the demarcation exercise the urgency it deserves to avert further breakdown of law and order.

    The Council boss however commended the painstaking efforts of Sir Lord Lugard for the great job done which makes it very easy for the National Boundary Commission NBC.

    The Chairman recalled previous efforts made by the commission to resolve the boundary challenges which has always been stalled due to some reasons that have never been disclosed to the people who are at the receiving end of the tunnel, with resultant effects on lost of lives and properties Worth millions of naira. He further called NBC to swing into action expeditiously.

    Mr. Ewhe reiterates the commitment of the people of Obudu Local Government Area to maintain peace and order and called on the Cross River State government to give NBC the support it deserves to ensure that the boundary line and beacons are planted now that the National Boundary Commission NBC, is set to bring lasting solution to the affected local government areas.

    The Chairman paid special commendation to the Deputy of Cross River State who doubles as the Chairman of the State Boundary Commission, Prof. Ivara Esu who is also billed to lead the delegation to meet with the National Boundary Commission NBC, in Abuja for his dogged disposition and resilience in the pursuit of a lasting boundary between Cross River and neighbouring states and maintained that he is more decisive and resolute now than ever to pursue the demarcation exercise in Obudu to a logical conclusion.

  • C’River Among The Five States Selected As Recipients of Global Fund Grant in Nigeria.

    C’River Among The Five States Selected As Recipients of Global Fund Grant in Nigeria.

    By Admin

    Cross River State held its State Management Team (SMT) meeting to kick start activities for Global fund action grant The SMT is part of National Coordination architecture established at the onset of the (President Comprehensive Response Plan) PCRP for HIV, to provide a high level coordination platform to drive the HIV response in the State. As part of efforts to strategically reposition the Country to achieve greater success in Health, HIV response and leverage on other opportunities to expand health care services.

    The Global Fund project is supporting Nigeria. Five (5) States in the Country including Cross River State have been selected to become sub recipients (SR) of the Global Fund (GF).

    A major activity resulting from this selection is the need to strengthen the Institutional Capacities of these States to effectively deliver on the GF grant, coordination at the highest level is crucial with the Deputy Governor Prof. Ivara Esu as chairman

    The State Management Team (SMT ) which provides the lead in Coordination in the state has been restructured and constituted with the Deputy Governors as the Chair and the Commissioner for Health as Deputy to ensure the provision of highest level policy direction and technical guidance.

    The SMT has its members drawn from a spectrum of critical Stakeholders in the HIV response from the following domains
    • Deputy Governor
    • MDAs
    o SMOH
    o MIDC
    o SACA
    o SPHCDA
    • Legislature
    • Technical Working Groups
    • Development Partners/Implementing Partners
    • Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS

    In her speech, the Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu said “As we gather here today, our common goal remains to halt and reverse the spread of HIV, bringing the prevalence rate down from 2% which is higher than the national average of 1.4% and in so doing contribute to the attainment of the SDGs and the State developmental goals which includes the Governors vision and agenda. The State Management Team which is expected to provide a strong policy support and direction for effective coordination of health sector HIV response. The broad role and responsibilities of the SMT will therefore be to;
    Improved Coordination & Systems Strengthening of the National response;
    Improved financial resourcing and state ownership
    Enhanced Coordination of the State level response;
    Addressing Human Resource Challenges Of The State Response amongst others.

    The House Committee Chairman on Health Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey Commended the state for this great progress and pledge the support of the Legislative arm to ensure local resource mobilization for Health care as well as legislative solutions to End HIV in state.

    Others who made Presentations were DG SACA Dr Etcheri Ansa, DG Primary Health Dr Ekpeyong, PS SMOH Bar Takon Asu Takon, PMTCT state Committee Chairman Dr Odusola and Dr Emmanuel Adams. FHI 360, Jepigo, UNFPA, Heartland alliance amongs others .

  • Inyang Asibong Doles Out 69 Happy Cheers To An Epitome Of Excellence, Elder Prof. Ivara Esu (OFR)

    Inyang Asibong Doles Out 69 Happy Cheers To An Epitome Of Excellence, Elder Prof. Ivara Esu (OFR)

    By Elijah Ugani

    Like the popular eye-catching, elegant double stemmed purple orchid, he came to the world with a clear vision. A vision with a great deal of symbolism like the orchid, that always shines at every opportunity given to radiate in a widespread family of flowering plants, with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant, like the orchid in him.

    He was born great from a humble background in Agwagune, Biase, in the then South Eastern Nigeria.

    Excellence is his second name, from Elementary to College to University, it was Distinction all the way as he sorjourned in his Academic pursuit from Agwagune to Itigidi, Abakaliki, Ugep and Okpoma in Yala, the Quality radiated at every point. Then to Ile-Ife in the then Western Nigeria and Zaria in the Northern part of the country, the legacies of Excellence imprinted his every step like a collosus.

    Coming back to the first Capital of Nigeria’s Southern Protectorate, where he again Excelled to become the no 1. citizen of the revered Ivory Tower, the University of Calabar, no wonder, why HE Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, still calls him the Vice Chancellor of Cross River State.

    A Professor of Soil Science with records of research all over Nigeria and beyond, who has produced legends and academicians shining bright beyond the shores of Africa.

    An adherent and lover of Culture, Tourism and Development of African Arts and artifacts. Little wonder he was appointed to serve Nigeria at the highest decision making body in the country, The Federal Executive Council as a Minister of the Federal Republic.

    His trademark of Excellence has made him serve as a Federal board Chairman and member of different Federal boards and parastatals. He also became a Commissioner of his state at a very tender age of 31 and performed Excellently.

    Now, Excellent performances have made him The Excellency of a beautiful state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a State Governed by two erudite Professors.

    Together with his Digital Boss, these two Professors have pushed boundaries, created new frontiers, broken records and set them again, all in a bid to take CRS to greater heights

    A trustworthy, reliable, and hardworking servant- leader of the people. As you celebrate you birthday today, I can only say your best is yet to come because you have produced many children both in Academics and Leadership.

    Happy Gallant 69th Birthday to the Qunitessential Deputy Governor Of Cross River State.

    God Bless You Sir.

    Inyang Asibong
    Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation (MIDC)
    May 3rd, 2020