By Kelvin Obambon
Emulating the generosity of his principal, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Heritage, Effiong Edem, popularly known as MC Senator, has gone back to his ward to replicate the ‘Season of Sweetness’ of Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s administration.
The Governor’s Aide on Monday October 6, 2025, gave back to the society by paying school fees for 50 pupils and providing hundreds of exercise books to the children at Ironbar Memorial Primary School, Atu Street, Calabar, as part of his Back to School outreach.
Beyond supporting education, he also bought fuel for over 40 tricycle operators, and had elaborate sit-out with some women in ward 9 Calabar South, promising to extend the gesture to all the political wards in the local government area.
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Reflecting on his motivation, Edem said, “It has always been my dream to give back to the society. I’ve always believed God to bless me, to become a blessing to others. So it is a prayer fulfilled by God.”
He shared how a visit to the school moved him to assist vulnerable pupils, “One day, I drove past that school and I saw some students without uniforms. I was touched. We conducted a search for the vulnerable ones and 50 of them we had to, today by God’s grace, pay their school fees.”
Speaking on his support for tricycle operators, he explained, “With my little resources, I had to go support the tricycle operators with three liters of fuel. That’s what I could afford. It’s to share love with about 30 to 40 of those tricycles to make everybody taste the season of sweetness.”
He encouraged his fellow government appointees to embrace giving, stating that “Giving has no limits. You were appointed not for yourself alone, not for your family, but for the community.”
Pastor Patrick Asikpo Okon, State Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who graced the occasion, lauded Edem’s efforts, saying, “I feel very moved and touched. God will bless you. Your pocket will never run dry. This is like a challenge to us. We will come back and do our part.”
Head teacher of the school Mrs Atim Eyo, prayed God’s blessings upon the Governor’s Aide, stating that the gesture would motivate the pupils to take their study seriously.
In their separate remarks, Hon. Oyo Emmanuel, a Commissioner in the Forestry Commission; Hon. Ekpenyong Nsa, the Councilor of ward 9, and Hon. Tete Anam, leader of Cross River State Youth Parliament and Director General of Scrap Metal Regulatory Agency, applauded the SA for giving back to the society, while calling on other government appointees to emulate his kind gesture.
They said if others could toe the path of Effiong Edem, it would help consolidate the Governor’s goodwill and endear him to the electorates across the state, as the 2027 election approaches.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of an award of honour to Effiong Edem by the Federation of Obubra Students Association Worldwide (FOSA-WW). The award recognizes his outstanding contributions, unwavering commitment and selfless service towards the promotion and preservation of culture, heritage and humanity.
