Governor Bassey Otu has granted assent to the amended Cross River Electoral Law passed by the State House of Assembly.
The amendment by House of Assembly was necessitated by the Supreme Court’s verdict granting autonomy to local government as well as ensuring that states of the federation to ensure local administrations are headed by elected officials in accordance with the constitution.
Signing the amended Law, Governor Otu stated: “Let me thank Mr. Speaker and members of the House of Assembly, and of course, our own Electoral Commission for making sure that we have an up-to-date act that is ready to put the third tier of government into office.
“Local government is very important. That is the government that is closer to the people than any other government that we have in the Federation.
I want to appreciate the fact that you’ve done a good job and I know that Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), as they are going, they are going to announce the date for the election and people will be ready; so that we will follow the rules of the game,” adding that, “We want this particular segment of our government to be active so that the dividends of democracy will trickle right down to the downtrodden and the people who need it most.”
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem told newsmen that “what we have done today is in line with the Supreme Court judgment that was passed ab initio, and the Otu-led government being a proactive one, decided that the third tier government must come up almost immediately.”
“For some time, we have not had the opportunity of having substantive chairmen in their right places of authority. And the governor thought it wise that we need to come up with the conduct of local government election.
“And the House of Assembly, in her wisdom, looked at the CROSIEC laws land realized that there were some grey areas that needed urgent attention. And those grey areas are the areas that have been largely attended to.
Speaker Ayambem said one of the most cardinal points tackled in the amended Law was the review of the tenure of office of chairmen and councillors from three to four years on par with their elected officials at the state and federal levels.
“As the Supreme Court judgment rightly had outlined that the third tier government should enjoy the same status with that of the executive, the status of a governor and the status of a president where they have a tenure of four years in office and not three years at it were. So we looked at it in consonance with the Supreme Court judgment.
“All that we have done is align strictly with what the Supreme Court has outlined. So we looked at it in consonance with the Supreme Court judgment all that we have done is aligning strictly with what the Supreme Court has outlined,” the Speaker added.
Rt. Hon. Ayambem reiterated the State Government’s stance on holding local government elections before the end of the year 2024.
The Cross River State government has promised fun seekers that the 2024 Calabar Festival will be one with new vitality and greater excitement.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser, Events Management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong shortly after a meeting with key stakeholders in Calabar.
Mr. Ekpenyong who doubles as the chairman of the Calabar Festival Committee stressed on the need for stakeholders to work assiduously to surpass the success of the previous year.
“This year’s festival promises to be one with new vitality, excitement and greater fun. Interestingly, our dear governor has promised to continue to provide us with everything so as to ensure we have a successful festival as well as an interesting Calabar carnival 2024
“Our first dry run will soon commence with the second season of the Pre Calabar Festival Concert, which will start immediately after the bands commence movement into the Carnival route, we call on all stakeholders to please come together and work as a team. This is the season of sweetness and it must be felt in everything we do,” he maintained.
He also hinted that the Carnival in Ikom and Ogoja will take place in November and not December. The aim, according to him is to give residents in the northern and central parts of the state, a sense of belonging during the festival in December.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Austin Cobham expressed the commission’s readiness to host the world again, maintaining that the first dry run for the 2024 carnival will take place on the 13th of October, 2024. He however, expressed frustration at the level of damage done to some of the commission’s infrastructures located at strategic areas within the carnival route.
In his address, chairman of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said he was excited and confident that the 2024 Calabar carnival will offer tourists and fun seekers around the world another opportunity to see Cross River State as the destination of choice.
Amongst those who attended the meeting were heads and representatives of key MDAs including the Tourism Bureau, State Electrification Agency, office of the State Security Adviser, State Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Health,, Traffic regulatory agency amongst others.
Mr Olugbile Holloway, Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, (NCMM) has disclosed that poor funding, people participation were some of the major challenges of museums in Nigeria.
Holloway made the assertion at the Slave History Museum, Calabar during a Museum Conversation titled: Connecting the Dots
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative which was organised by the Goethe Institute and Ford Foundation in partnership with NCMM was carried out in six Nigerian museums
Speaking to the NAN in an interview, the DG said they really needed to enlighten the populace and make the museums more interesting for the people to actually want to go there.
“We need to look at the user experience and ask ourselves what value are we adding to people’s lives by asking them to come to the museum.
“Most of our museums are dilapidated and not up to Global standards, they can be better in the area of technology and a lot of innovation,” he said
Speaking further, he said museums did not operate for themselves but for the wider community, noting that if the wider community was not keying into it and helping to drive the idea, there was no museum.
On his part, Mr Abubakar Ewa, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the government pf Cross River was doing a lot to enhance tourism activities involving the communities in the state.
Ewa who was represented by Mr Dan Akeke, a Director in the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture said one of such efforts was the celebration of the return of the original golden seat which was taking away from the state to Liverpool centuries ago.
He said the return of such precious artifact would help the youths of today and future generations to understand the ways and crafts of their ancestors.
Similarly, Mr Eyo Ndem, a traditional Ruler in the Obong of Calabar’s Council said it was important for the three elements of museum Palace and government to come together in the push for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the people.
Ndem said it was important to start catching them young by ensuring that visit to the museum was part of the curriculum in every school for children to see the various aspects of their cultures.
Similarly, Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan, former Director, AG Leventis Museum of Natural History said the project emphasizes the fact that the Nigerian cultural heritage needed to be preserved and exhibited to a wider populace.
He said Nigerians needed to show the world through their museums that their ancestors were great and that their legacies should be preserved.
NAN also reports that the engagement had a panel discussion on the topic: “enhancing cultural stewardship through inclusive community engagement in Nigerian Museums.
The Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme has begun a weeklong training workshop on the introduction of the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the University of Cross River (UNICROSS), respectively.
The workshop which commenced on Monday 16 September, 2024 at the E-learning Center of the Department of Modern Languages and Translation Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar, is part of a broader effort to introduce IMET and IUCN Green List into the curriculum of universities across the African continent, and the retaining of coaches in protected areas management effectiveness.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Peter Okafor, said that it was exciting to host the BIOPAMA workshop because the university management is keen to train and retrain staff and students of the institution.
“Knowledge is very important. What you know will take you to the future. What you don’t know keeps you in the past. The developed world are 20 or 30 years ahead of us because of the knowledge they have acquired. If we can acquire those knowledge, it will take us also to the future. We are where we are today because of the amount of knowledge at our disposal. We are suffering because we lack basic information that will help us.
“We are glad that this workshop will provide opportunity for our staff, our students – both undergraduates and postgraduates to also acquire knowledge,” he said.
While charging participants from the university community to make good use of the rare opportunity to learn as much as they can, the Acting Vice Chancellor noted that with people from other countries taking part in the workshop, UNICAL would have some kind of visibility.
“I happen to be the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Linkages and Collaboration. My job is to expose the University to the outside world, and do everything possible to link us internationally, locally, and then also to cooperate with as many bodies as possible that would help us to achieve our principal goal of research, teaching and community service,” Prof. Okafor said, as he welcomed the participants.
Speaking during a brief interview session, a Nigerian-based senior coach and facilitator of the workshop, Sonigitu Ekpe, said “the objective of the training is to be able to introduce IMET into the universities curriculum. We have four professors from the University of Calabar and the University of Cross River State in this training.
“We have 21 undergraduate and graduate students taking part in this training. They will learn the offline tools. IMET is a tool use to assess the management effectiveness of protected areas. Protected areas are like National Parks, conserved areas and reserved areas. We have various categories.
“IMET was developed by the joint research council of the European Union and we have used this tool to do a lot of assessments and the analyses have proved the effectiveness of management interventions and where interventions are needed. It helps to source and advice policymakers on facilitating resources and to protect our National Parks and conserved areas.”
Similarly, Edem Mawu, a coach from Ghana, explained that IMET assesses various protected areas by highlighting the challenges, prospects and successes that would be shared among the international community. He declared that everyone has a stake in the protection of the environment.
On his part, Abednego Gbarway from Liberia, noted that this would be the very first time IMET would be taught in the university. He said the initiative would raise the next generation of conservationists who would protect biodiversity.
Gbarway emphasized that protected areas apart from providing job opportunities for people in rural communities through tracing, have also helped to safeguard endangered species.
Paradise News understands that IMET is a Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) tool that allows an in-depth assessment of marine and terrestrial protected areas, regardless of their management categories and governance type. As a decision-support tool, it helps protected area managers take analysis-based management decisions for improved conservation outcomes.
The University of Calabar is working in partnership with the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), an agency of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of providing interest-free loans to students.
The partnership was announced during a sensitization visit led by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyer, to the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Speaking at the University Council Chamber, Mr Sawyer stated that the sensitization campaign, in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), aims to improve access to tertiary education for all Nigerian students.
He emphasized that the campaign is crucial in ensuring that every Nigerian student has access to the necessary financial resources to pursue their educational goals.
Mr Sawyer attributed the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to education, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
He explained that NELFUND was established and empowered to provide interest-free loans for tuition fees and living expenses, repayable after graduation.
The Managing Director appealed to the University management to submit students details, including names, JAMB numbers, BVN, and Matric numbers, to the NELFUND portal for fund disbursement.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Linkages & Collaboration, Prof. Peter Okafor welcomed the partnership, noting that the University has commenced computing student details through the ICT director.
She reported that 13,000 out of 41,000 students’ details have been computed, with more to be added subsequently.
The University administrator expressed enthusiasm over the partnership and appealed to NELFUND to revisit the University for further sensitization when students return from break.
Present at the sensitization visit were Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Eno-Grace Nta, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof. Angela Oyo Ita, Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Tony Eyang, Dean of Arts, Prof. Kyrian Ojong, Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Ajayi Omoogun, Director of ICT, Dr. Eyo Essien, Students Union President, Comr. Blessing Alims.
The year 2020 was a glorious one for the people of Bahumonu in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River because it was a year that marked the end of a 15-year communal war among four communities in the Bahumonu nation.
Like many other crisis that had bedeviled Cross River communities in the last 20 years and more, the wars between Ediba and Usumutong communities and Ebom versus Ebijakara were mainly a tussle over land, even though there were other remote causes.
While the wars raged-on from around 2005 with wanton destruction of lives and properties worth millions of naira, it created widows, orphans and exacerbated poverty in the waring communities.
For instance, as a result of the war that lasted for over a decade, indigenes of Ebijakara community were sacked from their land and have not returned 4 years after the war ended.
Community Secondary School Usumutong that was destroyed is a shadow of itself, with its destroyed staff quarters overgrown with weeds; Ediba and Ebom Communities also suffered various degrees of destruction.
Destroyed staff quarters of the Community Secondary School Usumutong overgrown with weeds
One of the survivors of the conflict, was Mrs Janet Ekpe from Ebijakara who lost her husband and every property they owned in the war.
Narrating her ordeal, Ekpe said she and her children suffered so much during the conflict, adding that, though she was happy that the war was over, she was still in pain as her wounds were yet to heal.
“Apart from losing my husband to the war the crisis prevented my children from going to school, our house was destroyed and we were sacked from our community.
“As we speak my children are scattered all over the nation because I cannot take care of them while I survive by taking small farmland on lease which has not been easy, I have cried and begged just to get something to survive on.
“This is why I plead with the state government to help us go back to our land and in the construction of houses because we are still suffering even though the war is over,” she said.
For Mr Nkam Igiri, a businessman from Ebom Community, the place where he did his business and lived was burnt-down during the war.
“I am happy that the war ended 4 years ago but since it did, we have not really seen much progress in the communities.
“Some of us that lost everything including our means of livelihood are still struggling to find something to do to put food on our tables and send our children to school. The government needs to help us,” he asserted.
A visit by NAN to the ancestral land of the Bahumonu nation in Otumosa and some of the communities recuperating from the years of carnage showed that they still lack basic amenities such as electricity, good telecommunication network.
The roads were in bad shape, especially the Ring Road that connects the nine communities of Bahumonu, their schools, health centres look dilapidated and by the River side that demarcates Bahumonu from Ebonyi, there were no jetties.
A section of the Ring Road that connects the nine communities of Bahumonu
Reiterating the present condition of the four communities that decided to drop arms and toe the line of peace, Mr Earnest Abam, Central Youth Leader of the Bahumonu Nation said though peace had returned, there were key areas they still needed to work on.
“There are some striking issues that caused the war in the first place that are yet to be resolved such as the permanent boundary between Usumutong and Ediba communities.
“Also, we are yet to resolve the discontentment between Ebom and Ebijakara for the latter to return to their land from where they were sacked during the wars.
“The conflict lasted for years, people have died on all sides and we are putting heads together to see how we can placate hearts to bring about peaceful for coexistence,” he affirmed.
Abam however added that they now realised that war did them no good and they would never pick up arms again, while calling on the state government to come in and help them consolidate on the peace achieved by entrenching development
On his part, His Royal Majesty Solomon Edward, Paramount Ruler of Abi LGA told NAN that it had been difficult in fully resolving the issues, even after the fightings ended four years ago.
Edward who doubles as the traditional ruler of Usumutong community said the elders have continued to disagree adding that it was sad that some people were still bitter that peace returned to the waring communities.
“I have continued to lay curses on anyone who does not want peace to reign among the communities that decided to say no to guns and machetes.
“We are still pushing to ensure that we fully resolve the issues and bring Ebijakara back to their land but it is becoming more and more difficult because where we are asking them to stay they are not comfortable with it.
“At this point, we appeal for the state government to come to our aid now, to help us resolve some of the lingering issues that is hindering total peace,” he maintained.
Although war torn for about 15 years, the four communities had been relatively peaceful after the youths miraculously dropped arms in 2020, the markets now sold in whatever ramshackle tents left after the fighting and people moved freely.
Speaking on the present situation, Mr Earnest Eteng, Chairman, Bahumonu Peace and Development Union said things were getting better, while thanking the youths for their doggedness in maintaining the peace that was achieved in 2020.
According to him, the youths were always the first to visit any scene where there was misunderstanding capable of resulting to violence, even without the elders knowing, to ensure that peace was sustained.
Eteng appealed to indigenes of the communities concerned to fully embrace peace, so that the state government could come to their rescue in the area of infrastructural development which was highly needed in the communities.
“The state government has accepted to help us but they said we must be ready to sign the peace agreement stating where each of the projects will be.
“That was what we were told in 2021 when the committee set up by former Gov. Ben Ayade came on a fact finding mission in the Bahumonu nation, that position has not changed, he stated.
Responding on the state government’s development plan for the Bahumonu nation, Mr Collins Bassey, Community Relation Officer in charge of Abi LGA for Gov. Bassey Otu, claimed that the state had done a lot to ensure peace in Bahumonu.
He said the schools, roads and other infrastructures in the Bahumonu nation were in bad shape but the government was poised within the shortest possible time to bring development to the region.
Bassey who noted that the construction of the ring road in Bahumonu was captured in the 2024 budget as the governor promised during his campaigns, said if there was no peace there was no way the communities would attract government attention.
“The people lost so much, families lost properties and loved ones in the war so, I will not rest but continue to remind the governor of his promises to the Bahumonu people because with Peace there’s nothing we cannot achieve.
The war in Bahumonu may have ended but it is clear that the peace being enjoyed among the four communities today is fragile.
While many of the indigenes are still calmly aggrieved but recuperating from the emotional wounds and trauma, the issues that caused the war are still yet to be fully resolved four years after.
This is the time for the state government to do more than just empty rhetorics by picking up the report of the Ndoma Egbe led committee set up by the former administration in the state in 2021 and commence implementation of its recommendations.
The Bahumonu nation is a cluster of nine communities that are well-known for their agrarian capabilities especially in the production of rice in commercial quantities.
Riverside that demarcates Bahumonu from Ebonyi without jetties
This must be developed in addition to other necessary basic amenities especially in this era or low food production, to aid not just Cross River but Nigeria at large in the production of some of the nation’s everyday staples.
The indigenes themselves who have seen how their once thriving communities were devastated, courtesy of communal wars, must learn that destruction is easy while rebuilding is quite difficult and expensive and so, toe the line of dialogue instead.
The time to act is now to avoid any form of degeneration.
Christian Njoku is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He writes from Cross River State, Southern Nigeria.
Ntufam Barr. Mba Ukweni (SAN) is a Calabar based human rights lawyer. He speaks against use of military personnel to officials of the senator Otu’s administration to harass and intimidate allottees of 1,415 hectares which were allocated to them by the immediate past administration, notwithstanding the court order restraining the state government to do so. In this interview Ukweni gives insight on issues at stake.
Can you introduce yourself?
I am Ntufam Barr. Mba Ukweni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, practicing law here in Calabar, Cross River State.
There have been reports that military personnel have taken permanent residence at the government-owned cocoa estate in Etung, preventing allottees from the Ben Ayade’s administration from accessing their farms. This is despite a court order restraining the state government from evicting them. What is your take on this?
I don’t know who deployed the military there, but given the ongoing court proceedings, it’s safe to assume that the same people opposing the allottees are responsible. This is unlawful. The military has no business involving itself in civilian matters, especially where no war or security threat exists. These allottees entered into valid agreements with the government, paid for their allocations, and even have a court order permitting them to remain. Bringing in the military to evict them is outright lawlessness.
It’s essential to uphold the rule of law. When government officials refuse to obey the law, they end up being consumed by the anarchy they create. Remember the #EndSARS protests? It was the same people in power who became the targets and had to hide. Maintaining law and order benefits them more than the common people, yet they act otherwise. The military’s presence is an extension of the Cross River State government’s unlawful actions.
The state government has now admitted involvement by joining the fundamental rights lawsuit we filed on behalf of Dr. Oscar Ofuka. The Attorney General even applied to be part of the case, acknowledging that the state violated Ofuka’s rights. The government is behind this, and we now know whom we are up against.
Given the current situation, what do you see as the way forward?
We will pursue the necessary legal steps. Now that the Cross River State government has taken responsibility for the military presence at the estate, they will be held accountable for any harm done to our clients. The government has acknowledged its involvement, so it’s clear who is responsible.
There is a petition against you from the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police. What’s your response to that?
The AIG wrote a petition to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) claiming I went to the police station and released a murder suspect. I found this laughable. The President of the NBA sent me a copy of the petition, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. It’s ironic that the same AIG, whom I restrained myself from petitioning for his disregard of the rule of law, is accusing me of such misconduct.
You mentioned restraining yourself from writing a petition against the AIG. Can you clarify?
Yes, I held back from writing a petition against him because it would likely have led to his removal from office. He blatantly disobeyed a court order to release Dr. Ofuka, even after the court bailiff and police officers repeatedly approached him. I had to personally intervene to ensure Ofuka’s release. Despite this, the AIG had the audacity to file a petition against me, ignoring the court’s order.
Don’t you think your actions could be perceived as lawless?
Absolutely not. It is the AIG and his associates who acted lawlessly by disobeying a court order. The police officers on duty were following the law, but the AIG chose to detain them for carrying out their duties. It’s absurd that the AIG thinks he’s above the law, yet he refuses to charge Ofuka, even after a court order was issued for his release.
Those supporting the government claim that the documents presented by Dr. Ofuka regarding the cocoa farms’ lease are fake. How do you respond to that?
Are they saying the documents prepared by the Attorney General of the state are fake? What about the money paid by the cocoa allottees into the government’s coffers? Is that fake too? The state hasn’t attempted to return the money, nor has the Attorney General denied preparing the agreements. The government took the allottees’ money, paid off the debts owed to landlord communities, and used part of it to regenerate the cocoa estate. Now they want to turn around and deny the allottees the opportunity to benefit from their investment? That’s fraudulent behavior.
What do you believe is motivating the government’s actions?
It’s simple: greed. The government is trying to evict the allottees so they can hand over the cocoa estate to their cronies. They’re using force to drive people off the land that was lawfully allocated to them. This is nothing but an abuse of power, and it’s unacceptable.
Government’s actions are a clear case of fraud. After collecting money from the allottees, settling debts, and regenerating the estate, they want to deny these people the fruits of their investment. We won’t stand for this. We will continue to challenge these illegal actions in court.
The main essence is for these same people that are pursuing them to drive them away from those estates and take over the estates from them and allocate to their cronies or make use of them that’s all. This is bad ! Who has ever heard that government would do businesses and stop in their own tenure, because one of the things I have been hearing is that those agreement were for six years, they were beyond the term of Ayade and so what?, when they collected money beyond six years to pay the land lord communities and to regenerate the estates, did they not know that the money government was collecting was going to be beyond six years? So, if the crops are now good enough for the people who legitimately paid those money into coffers of the state government to reap from the benefit of their investment, and one begins to say they shouldn’t go there because a new government has come into power ,who told them that? Okay, a new government should go and plant their new estates, because it is not the new government that planted the estates. The cocoa estate was planted by previous administration of Okpara. Government they said it continuum.If the new government is saying that the previous government cannot entered into a contract beyond the tenure of that government, then the new government did not plant those estates, it should go and plant its own estates.
The inter party advisory council (IPAC) Cross River State held a meeting on the 11th day of September 2024 and thought it pertinent haven explored concrete deliberation unanimously agreed that Engr. Effiom Edet Okon be reinstalled as Chairman IPAC CRS.
The suspension administered on the 5th August, 2024. after a concised emergency council meeting on the grounds of;
– Handling the council concerns and projects as though his personal enterprise without intimating the council for apt decisions and implementation of acute policies to enable IPAC establish it’s set goal.
The council however sat on the 11th September 2024, in an enlarged meeting after a lengthy deliberation agreed to reinstate Engr Effiom Edet Okon as Chairman haven sampled and treated necessary routes to fair hearing and justice.
In the lens of all inclusive government and ambience of solidarity, knowing that no human organization is without pitfalls the general assembly agreed reflecting the code of conduct of IPAC, that ENGR EFFIOM EDET OKON continues the leadership of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State when a motion of reinstatement was moved by Ambassador Ogar Osim the State Party Chairman of Labour Party and the motion was seconded by Dr Innocent Ekwok which was unanimously agreed by the general counsel with open apologize to the Chairman for being wrongly accused.
As he pledges his faithfulness, commitment, proactiveness, courageousness and tenaciousness as he mirrors leadership mien in his tenure as IPAC Chairman in Cross River State.
In furtherance, ENGR EFFIOM EDET OKON in his speech expressed gratitude to the general assembly for believing in him as well as seeing the him worthy to lead with the Sceptre of the leadership of IPAC CRS, hence promising measures that will rebrand the narratives of IPAC CRS.
During his previous time as Chairman before the suspension, he successfully “facilitated collaboration among political parties,” “organized successful events,” and “strengthened relationships with stakeholders” he further said he is eager to build on these accomplishments and even more to continue serving the council with integrity and passion.
He appreciate the opportunity to further in his leadership, as he Thanked the council for considering his request as he looks forward to the opportunities to serve IPAC Cross River State better.
Signed
Comrade Frederick Eje Omari
IPAC Secretary Cross River State
After years of hiatus, Cross River is now set to organize Trade Fair to stimulate economic activities and to attract investors to the state.
This was announced by the Commissioner for Commerce, Dr (Mrs) Abigail Duke at a press conference in Calabar on Thursday.
According to her, the Rebranded Cross River 2024 Trade Fair with the theme, “In support of Our Shared Prosperity,” is scheduled for 15 to 26 November, 2024 at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the state capital.
Duke explained that the Fair was being organized in collaboration with the Calabar and Ikom Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
She said the Governor of Cross River State had graciously approved the staging of the fair to break the silence and lull in the vital aspect of the promotion of economic activities, adding that the fair is targeted at a multi-sectoral trade promotion and networking event aimed at creating opportunities for trade, business and investment promotion in the State.
The Commissioner who doubles as the steering committee chairman, further stated that the fair would also provide markets for new products, create access to new markets, and development trends as well as build new business relationships within and outside Nigeria.
“One of the core mandates of the Ministry of Commerce is the promotion of commercial/trade policies of the state with the view to attracting investment opportunities to the State, especially now that the State is evolving a Public-Private Partnership model for her development.
“One of the avenues we can strategically advance the economic frontiers of Cross River State is through the organization of a yearly Trade Fair; and it is in this regard that, the 2024 Cross Trade Fair is being planned.
“The Theme of this year’s Fair as stated earlier “In Support of Our Shared Prosperity”, is a complementary activity to the yearly Calabar Christmas Festival to assuage the yearnings of most participants who crave for variety of activities covering leisure, business, and tourism escapades. It is envisaged however that, as soon as the Trade Fair ends, very close to the take-off of the Christmas festivities most exhibitors should see reasons to stay back for the festival.
“The central focus of the Trade Fair is to promote the industrial, commercial, agricultural, raw materials, and minerals potentials of the state to attract investment opportunities based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. However, the traditional buying and selling of goods/services will not be left out.
“The target participants will include the 18 LGAs of the state, private companies within and outside the state, foreign embassies/consulates, and state governments within the south-south, south-east and other zones of the country,” she explained.
The Commissioner also used the opportunity to seek the support of the media and called for the total buy-in on the 2024 Cross River Trade Fair project, stating “We need to work together to showcase the best offerings of Cross River State to the rest of the world.”
Social Impact Professional and Founder of Brencare Foundation, Brenda Apata has urged young people in their twenties to fully maximize and invest in the early season of their lives, stating that it is a crucial time to make life decisions.
Apata gave the charge on Saturday in Calabar during the 2nd physical edition of “Twenties Lessons with Bee”, themed “Maximizing your Twenties Edition”.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, Apata emphasized on the twenties, as a special season that needs to be fully invested in, while stressing on the importance of mentorship in makings decisions. She further charged young people not to take chances at learning, relearning and unlearning.
Also speaking at the event, relationship coaches and couple, The Funbuwhes charged young people on the principle of purpose discovery, learning, association, counsel, environment and spiritual growth.
Speaking on the issue of finance, Personal Finance Expert and founder of Rich Aunty Finance, Dr Sarah Samuel enjoined participants to invest in knowledge, assets, their health and useful communities.
Other renowned key note speakers at the event include Akiba Ekpenyong, Sickle cell advocate, Onor Tawo, spoken word artiste, Mercy Ndifon, Enobong Unoasuquo and renowned sound engineer, Precious Tawo.
Meanwhile, a participant and beneficiary, Victory Edem expressed gratitude at winning a cash prize of one hundred thousand naira following an essay contest at the event.
