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Tag: Think Cross River

  • Easter Carnival: Think Cross River Group applaud C’River First Lady, optimistic event will boost economic fortunes of the state

    Easter Carnival: Think Cross River Group applaud C’River First Lady, optimistic event will boost economic fortunes of the state

    By Solomon Azu

    Wife of the Cross River State governor, Bishop Mrs Eyoanwan Otu has been commended for her innovation and pioneering role in people oriented programmes in the state.

    The commendation was made by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor  and coordinator of the Think Cross River group, Mr. Edem Darlington, during a radio interview session  “The People’s Opinion programme on FAD FM. Calabar Saturday, and monitored by this reporter.

    According to  Darlington, the  introduction of the Easter carnival was a strategic move by Bishop Otu to market the rich cultural and religious history of the state to the global community, while at the same time boosting the state economic fortunes.

    “The innovative and strategic move by the wife of our dear governor at introducing the Easter carnival which is also called the Jesus carnival is an intentional move aimed at showcasing our rich religious and cultural history to the world. As it is in every business venture, that move will see a rapid rise in influx of visitors and tourists in our state with its attendant boost of our economic fortunes.

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    He emphasized that the carnival also  aims to strike a balance between faith-based content and entertainment for diverse audiences. “It’s about balancing faith and fun,” he said.

    “I commend their excellences, because while Jesus was on earth, he did not only mingle with church people alone, he went out and met with the sinner and other group of people in the society and that is exactly what the governor and his wife  are trying to achieve,” Darlington concluded.

    In his contribution, the Special Adviser, Events management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong noted that the Easter Carnival, a brainchild of the governor’s wife is a new addition to the rich tourism calendar of the state aimed at   promoting faith, culture, and tourism and also ensuring year long entertainment for both visitors and tourists to the State.

    “Jesus Carnival, a unique blend of faith and culture, is poised to become a major tourist attraction in Cross River State, Nigeria. According to him, the  initiative is part of the state’s efforts to leverage its tourist potential throughout the year.

    The Carnival also aligns with Cross River State’s overall tourism development plan, which seeks to promote cultural heritage and boost the local economy. With its rich cultural landscape and natural wonders, the carnival is expected to attract millions of people, showcasing African culture and heritage through music, drama, and artistic creativity.

    “We are a tourist state, and we should have events all year round.The event is expected to bring enormous benefits to the state, with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) fully involved in its organization.

    The state’s commitment to hosting successful events is evident in its recent activities, including declaring work-free days for civil and public servants during the Calabar Carnival. With effective planning and execution, the Jesus Carnival has the potential to become a flagship event for Cross River State, promoting faith, culture, and economic growth.

  • Think Cross River felicitates Governor Otu’s Chief of Staff, says his leadership inspires culture of service, dedication

    Think Cross River felicitates Governor Otu’s Chief of Staff, says his leadership inspires culture of service, dedication

    The Think Cross River group has felicitated the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Cross River State, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar on the occasion of his birthday.

    The group in a statement signed by its initiator, Mr Edem Darlington and made available to the Paradise News Friday, says the Chief of Staff has inspired a culture of service and dedication, which will continue to benefit the state and its people.

    The statement reads;

    “We at the Think Cross River group warmly extend our felicitations to you on this special occasion. As the Chief of Staff to our dear Governor, your dedication and leadership have continued to shape the trajectory of governance in our dear state. Little wonder, your recent recognition as the Best Chief of Staff in Nigeria at the National Leadership Awards did not come as a surprise.

    “Your commitment to public service and your role in enhancing the machinery of state have significantly impacted the development landscape in Cross River. Your proactive approach and vision have motivated the Governor’s team to strive for excellence, aligning with the “People First” agenda of this administration. You have inspired a culture of service and dedication, which will continue to benefit the state and its people.

    “As you celebrate this special day, we wish you continued success, wisdom, divine health and strength to carry on the responsibilities bestowed upon you by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.

    “May your birthday be filled with joy, love and the appreciation of those whose lives you have touched through your service. We value and cherish you as you continue to Think Cross River in all you do.

    “Happy birthday once again, Sir.”

  • Muslim Community Pledges Support for ThinkCrossRiver Initiative

    Muslim Community Pledges Support for ThinkCrossRiver Initiative

    By Andrea Ekeng

    The Muslim Community in Cross River State has officially declared its support for the ThinkCrossRiver initiative, a movement aimed at fostering unity, responsibility, and collective ownership among Cross Riverians. The declaration was made earlier today during a courtesy visit by the Muslim leadership to the ThinkCrossRiver Group.

    Led by the Chief Imam of Calabar Central Mosque, Imam Kabir, the delegation expressed their appreciation for the developmental strides of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu, noting the visible transformation of the state under his leadership. Speaking at the event, the Imam extolled the Governor’s commitment to growth and progress, which he said aligns with the values of the Muslim Community. He further emphasized that this shared vision was the reason behind their unanimous decision to support the ThinkCrossRiver initiative.

    “ThinkCrossRiver is an initiative that awakens the consciousness of the people to see Cross River as theirs, to protect it, promote its values, and ensure it remains a hospitable destination for all,” the Imam stated. He assured the group of the Muslim Community’s full backing in advancing the interests of the state and its leadership.

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    Responding on behalf of the ThinkCrossRiver Group, Mr. Edem Darlington expressed gratitude for the support from the Muslim Community, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening unity and inclusivity in Cross River State. He reiterated that the ThinkCrossRiver initiative is designed to instill a deep sense of belonging and responsibility among the people.

    “This movement encourages every Cross Riverian to take ownership of the state’s progress, safeguard its interests wherever they find themselves, and uphold its laws and values in their daily conduct,” Darlington explained.

    He further assured the Muslim Community of a strong partnership, emphasizing that their participation would enhance the vision of ThinkCrossRiver and contribute to making Cross River a model of peace, development, and hospitality.

    The meeting ended with mutual commitments to work together in promoting the ideals of the initiative, reinforcing the spirit of togetherness and civic responsibility across the state.

  • Think Cross River Group Congratulates Gov Otu’s Chief of Staff over National Leadership Award

    Think Cross River Group Congratulates Gov Otu’s Chief of Staff over National Leadership Award

    The Chief of Staff to Cross River governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar has been lauded for his effective inter-personal and managerial skill that has engendered a stable political atmosphere in the state.

    The commendation followed the recognition of Hon. Ironbar as the best Chief of Staff in Nigeria at the National Leadership Award organized by The People’s Parliament Nigeria in Abuja, recently.

    Mr Edem Darlington, Director General of the Think Cross River group, in a statement, described the award as deserving and a call for greater responsibility and service to the state.

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    “When you carefully study the person of the Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar and the way he manages people and resources, you will agree with me that he is indeed a round peg in a round hole. The award is a recognition for his hard work.

    “Hon. Ironbar at every point in time, put in his best to manage issues around the governor. The versatility he brings to bear on his job as the governor’s top aide makes him stand out. His carriage, temperament and wisdom in handling crisis is inspiring.

    “This is why we are celebrating him and also praying that God should give him more grace, wisdom and understanding to continue to assist the governor in delivering the People First mandate,” Edem stated.

  • Nkot Mbok: Think Cross River Group Commends Gov Otu for his proactive security approach

    Nkot Mbok: Think Cross River Group Commends Gov Otu for his proactive security approach

    …Says move in the best interest of C’River

    The initiator of the Think Cross River group (TCRG), Edem Darlington has commended the Cross River State governor for his security approach and modern policing initiatives in the State.

    Mr. Darlington made the commendation while speaking with selected journalists in Calabar the state capital.

    According to him, the emergence of governor Bassey Otu has brought peace and tranquility tnot just to the state capital but the entire Cross River.

    His words, “We were all here in this state when kidnappings, arson, ritual killings and all manner of crime were being perpetuated sometimes in broad day light.

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    “At one point, Cross River State was rated as one of the most dangerous places to visit in Nigeria. We moved from being the most peaceful state to one of the most unsafe places in Nigeria.

    “No one was spared, our medical doctors repeatedly kidnapped, a situation that prompted the leadership of the NMA at the time to go on strike each time one of their members were kidnapped.

    “Even water leaf sellers and petty traders were kidnapped and as low as five thousand was collected as ransom. Those were the issues the governor met in ground. But today, the reverse is the case.

    “The governor since assumption of office has had countless security meetings, provided  security officers with modern equipments to fight all forms of crime and criminality in the State. I think the governor deserves commendation for returning our state back to a peaceful and secured place,” Edem noted.

    Mr. Darlington who is also the deputy chief press secretary to the governor, used the opportunity to clear the air regarding the recent cancellation of a cultural parade, Nkot Mbok. Insisting that the cancellation was done in the best interest of the State.

    “No one in the State have access to the level of security information that the governor has. So if intelligence gathering points to the fact that a particular event will lead to chaos were lives and properties could be lost, what a good leader and father will do is to be proactive and nip the issue in immediately. It is my sincere opinion that the government should rather be commended.

    “If you look at the recently released Nigeria security report for 2024, you will realize that Cross River State made significant progress in terms of peace and security stability and that means that we are  gradually taking back our place as the safest and most peaceful state in the country.”

    The Think Cross River initiator used the opportunity to call on young people in the State to continue to pray for the peace of the state as no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of chaos and violence.

  • C’River Govt accelerates work on Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by FG 33 years ago

    C’River Govt accelerates work on Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by FG 33 years ago

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Work is progressing rapidly on the 10-kilometer Adiabo-Ikoneto road abandoned by the Federal Government 33 years ago. The single carriage road project initiated in 1992 by the late Sani Abacha regime was to halve the travel time from Calabar to Akwa Ibom and also multiply the entry point to the state capital.

    Speaking shortly after an inspection tour of the ongoing project by the Think Cross River Initiative and a team of journalists on Monday, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ankpo Pius, explained that the project was awarded to Zenith Construction Nigeria Limited in 2024.

    He said the 10km road starts from the Tinapa bridge area and would terminate at Ikoneto. According to the Commissioner, the project would include construction of two major bridges and a realignment of the road.

    “The major challenge we have there is the swampy area. The place need to be filled and allow to cure and set. That’s why we don’t have a definite timeline for the completion. It’s a huge project. We have about 4 or 5 kilometer to sand fill to about 3 to 5 meters of depth. The filling there is massive considering the terrain which is watery. In the next three or four months we should be able to complete the filling, and then open the road for motorists to drive on to allow it settle before we bring in laterite and fill it until we get to the level we want.

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    “I want to commend the Governor for this great initiative. This goes a long way to settle the issue of the state having one way in and one way out. This road will be another way to change that narrative. This government is committed to putting quality infrastructure in place for the benefit of Cross Riverians. Upon completion, the project will reduce the travel distance from Calabar to Odukpani by 30 kilometer,” he said.

    Hon. Ankpo disclosed that Prince Otu-led administration since assumption of office has initiated about 100 kilometers of road projects across the state of which 45 to 50 percent have been completed. He noted that the government was working on completing several projects initiated by the previous administration, adding that recently approval has been secured for the construction of flyovers at Mobil-MCC and Effioete Roundabout.

    Commenting on the Adiabo-Ikoneto road project, the initiator of Think Cross River, Mr Edem Darlington, said the road traverses and connects several communities such as Adiabo, Creek Town 1, Creek Town 2 and terminates at Ikoneto.

    He recalled that the road which was supposed to be completed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was abandoned over the years, thus prompting the state government to take up the project as a response to the cries of commuters who ply the deplorable Odukpani-Itu road.

    Darlington who is the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, explained that the Adiabo-Ikoneto road would bypass failed portions of Odukpani-Itu road and thereby shorten the distance between Calabar and Akwa Ibom. He said the agony Cross Riverians were going through as a result of the parlous state of the Odukpani-Itu road cannot be quantified, which is why the governor in his compassionate nature had stepped in to remedy the situation.

    The Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Andrea Ekeng Inyang and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Communication, Mr Nathan Otaba, also took part in the tour.

  • THINK CROSS RIVER: Presidency to honour Gov Otu DCPS, Edem Darlington, others for community leadership

    THINK CROSS RIVER: Presidency to honour Gov Otu DCPS, Edem Darlington, others for community leadership

    Initiator of the Think Cross River initiative, Edem Darlington will be honored by the presidency for his efforts in community engagement and leadership according to a statement by the senior special assistant to the president on community engagement, Gift Jumbo.

    The award, “Community  Visionary Leadership”  according to the statement is as a result of Mr Darlington’s incredible and massive community engagement initiatives of which Think Cross River is one of them.

    “On behalf of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), Nigeria, I am pleased to inform you that you have been nominated to receive an award in the category “COMMUNIITY VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AWARD” at our upcoming event titled: “Road to South-South,” the statement reads.

    The event which is billed to take place at the banquet hall of the presidential villa is scheduled for tuesday,  10th  December, 2024.

    Amongst those also listed for the award include the Cross River State Governor, Sen Bassey Otu who will receive an award for Excellence in Public Governance and former governor Donald Duke who will be honored for his pivotal role in the promotion of Cultural Heritage.

    The event brings together stakeholders from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, creating a national platform for dialogue, unity, and collaboration. According to the organizers, the goal is to foster understanding among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, strengthen partnerships across regions, and address the unique challenges and opportunities within the South-South region.

    Edem Darlington who is also the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Cross River River state is honoured for his contributions which have been recognized as instrumental in advancing the ideals, aligning with the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a united and inclusive Nigeria.

    “In acknowledgment of your dedication and consistent leadership prowess, an award will be presented to you in recognition of your commitment to building the Nigeria of our dreams in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement concluded.

    Edem Darlington is a journalist and communication strategist who has worked as brand manager for major brands across the country and outside Nigeria.

  • Global Warming: Governor Bassey Otu Signs Bill To Establish Climate and Green Economy Commission

    Global Warming: Governor Bassey Otu Signs Bill To Establish Climate and Green Economy Commission

    The Cross River State governor, Sen Bassey Edet Otu has signed into law, a bill to establish a Climate and Green Economy Commission.

    The event which took place at the Dan Archibong lodge, the temporary office of the governor in Calabar, the state capital, was witnessed by top government officials including the state Deputy Governor, secretary to the state government as well as the leadership of the state house of assembly.

    The governor who said that the law was aimed at preserving the rich biodiversity of the state, maintained that it  marked “another bold step by my administration to engender a sustainable environment through the protection of the rich and yet fragile ecosystem of Cross River State..

    “For us in Cross River State, the environmental consciousness among the citizenry is simply our way of life. Almost all our actions are guided by the principle of “LIVING AT PEACE WITH NATURE”. This consciousness had greatly contributed to the mitigation of natural catastrophes that our geographical zone is proned to. We have halted and reversed community based deforestation activities by adopting sustainable farming practices.

    According to governor Otu, “the key element of the nature-positive strategy is the regeneration method, whereby we have undertaken the planting of millions of trees in our depleted forests. We have also adopted controlled-logging of wood in our rainforests. It is our considered opinion that when our forests and other biodiversity hotspots are restored and protected, carbon will be assimilated, biodiversity enriched and air purified for our wellbeing.

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    “The signing of the Climate and Green Economy Bill today is therefore a sign of our renewed drive towards the Nature-Positive Strategy (NPS).
    The Nature-Positive Strategy is a deliberate action of my administration to enhance the resilience of our forests by halting and reversing natural habitat loss; it is the foundation of our Green Economy,” he emphasized.

    Speaking earlier, the speaker of the state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, appreciated the legislators for doing a great job by ensuring that relevant stakeholders were carried along in the cause of putting up the bill. He expressed satisfaction at the level of work done by members of the house, especially the house committee on environment, Hon. Ovat Agbor and members of his committee who worked tirelessly to ensure that a good job was done.

    Cross River State apart from hosting the largest rainforest in the country, has become the first sub-national to set up such an important commission, deliberately taking measures to address the issue of climate change.

    THINK CROSS RIVER Group
    7th November, 2024
    Calabar

  • Think Cross River: We want to bring back the spirit of patriotism in our dear state – Edem Darlington

    Think Cross River: We want to bring back the spirit of patriotism in our dear state – Edem Darlington

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The initiator of Think Cross River, Mr Edem Darlington, has said that the initiative seeks to reignite the spirit of patriotism among Cross Riverians, while also galvanizing support for the government in its effort to deliver good governance to the people.

    Darlington stated this at an interactive session with journalists in Calabar on Wednesday.

    He maintained that Think Cross  initiative is a major advocacy tool for the government to promote the rich tourism potential, and as well as highlights various business and investment opportunities available in the state.

    Beyond this, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor affirmed that at the core of the Think Cross River initiative embedded the message of patriotism, love for one another, prosperity, collective responsibility and social justice for all.

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    According to him, “If you are patriotic, you won’t take up arms against your neighbour. If you are Thinking Cross River there is no way you will see something going wrong around your neighbourhood and you won’t call the security agents. If you are Thinking Cross River, there is no way you will see someone trying to enter your neighbour’s house and you won’t call the police. We are just trying to promote peace, promote unity, promote peaceful coexistence.”

    “It is no news that Cross as a state has a very friendly people. We are naturally very hospitable; and so that is the very first attraction for any serious business or investor. And then too, for a long while we have remained the most peaceful state in the country; and so naturally, Cross River is the darling of every investor who actually wants to put his money and make real gains from it. So this tool is to promote everything about Cross River, and also, very importantly, to call on all Cross Riverians to join hands with the governor, our dearest sweet prince, Senator Prince Bassey Otu and promote what he is doing, support the current administration and also promote everything that has to do with Cross River State.

    “It is a tool to unite Cross Riverians, so whether you are from Cross River or you are living in the state, it doesn’t really matter, but the fact that you are doing business or living here means that you are a Cross Riverian and our governor will always say that. Think Cross River is a tool to unite us as a people and ensure that we are all part of what the government is doing by way of protecting government facilities around your locality, ensuring that you reach out to security agents whenever you see anything going wrong in your area and ensuring also that we keep our environment clean because everything cannot be about government.

    “We as a people, we are also part of what government is doing. We are also part of government. So the actual responsibility must begin with us. It must begin with us. Think Cross River is a tool to galvanize all forms of support for the current administration and even beyond this current administration.

    “However, we also have a way, we are planning on reaching out to some persons by way of promoting what we are trying to do.

    “For example, if a neighbour is there and doesn’t have a job, you can actually reach out and say, okay, what business can we do? We have plans like that and we take from all of this, you know, from our little contributions amongst us. For me, if we remain at peace, if we love ourselves, if we support what the government is doing, then it is good enough. That for me is very important than any other thing,” he emphasized.

    Darlington also used the opportunity to commend governor Bassey Otu for his giant strides in infrastructural development, payment of gratuity to pensioners and ensuring relative peace and security in the state.