The Cross River State Political Directors Forum (CRSPDF) has honoured the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, in recognition of his exceptional leadership and transformative impact on the state’s agricultural sector.
The certificate of investiture was presented on Saturday at the commissioner’s residence in Calabar, during a ceremony attended by executive committee members of the Forum and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the body, the Chairman of the Forum, Prince Jude Agaji, said the honour was bestowed in appreciation of Ebokpo’s trailblazing role in driving agricultural reforms, particularly his commitment to tree crops mechanisation involving cocoa, coffee and oil palm, as well as the distribution of 77 motorcycles to agricultural extension workers across the state to strengthen service delivery at the grassroots.
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Agaji described the commissioner as a key contributor to the intellectual framework that helped shape the present administration under Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, noting that his strategic input before and after the emergence of the government has translated into effective policy execution.
According to him, Governor Otu’s decision to place Ebokpo in charge of the agriculture sector has yielded unprecedented results, with visible improvements across value chains. He said the commissioner’s initiatives have repositioned agriculture from subsistence practice to a structured, mechanised and inclusive system capable of driving economic diversification, job creation and food security.
In his response, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo expressed deep appreciation for the honour, describing it as a humbling recognition that affirms the impact of the ministry’s work.
“This award shows that people are paying attention to the specifics of what we are doing. I am grateful to God and to the leadership of this administration for the opportunity to serve,” he said.
Ebokpo attributed the progress recorded in the sector to Governor Otu’s leadership philosophy, which he said encourages teamwork, discipline and collaboration across political and bureaucratic structures.
He explained that Cross River’s agricultural reforms are deliberately benchmarked against successful models in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on building strong fundamentals that will sustain long-term productivity and industrial growth. He disclosed that the ministry has procured and commenced phased distribution of mini-medium tractors suited to local farming realities, supported by a tracking system to ensure transparency and prevent politicization.
The commissioner said the broader vision is to scale up production, attract agro-processing industries, expand youth participation and build a resilient agricultural economy that can stand independently over time.
He further emphasised the critical role of political and bureaucratic directors in anchoring effective governance, describing them as indispensable to policy implementation and institutional continuity.
The presentation was attended by members of the executive committee of the Forum, including Engr. Obono Onen, Vice Chairman; Comrade Ita Ekeng, Public Relations Officer; Elder Chief Obono Ibiam, Publicity Secretary; Mrs. Josephine Akayel, Welfare Secretary; and Eastern Ekpenyong, Financial Secretary.
