The government of Cross River State has found favour with the African Development Bank (AfDB). This is because aside from the support that the state is getting from the Continental bank, it will also be supported in the area of health services delivery. The assurance was given in Calabar on Thursday by Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, president of the bank. He was speaking
during a state banquet organised in his honor by the state government.
Adesina outlined plans to support primary healthcare delivery in addition to supporting the state with the launch of the Special Agro Processing Zone project.
He commended Governor Bassey Otu, noting that the governor is indeed a “passionate, action-driven, and accountable leader, doing so much in infrastructure.”
According to the AfDB president, what Governor Otu has done in partnership with Afrixem Bank for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, gives the hope that Cross River State will soon be an important logistics and industrial processing hub, even for the entire West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
While commending the strides of Governor Otu in healthcare, Adeshina pledged to support his ongoing efforts in the revitalisation of primary health centers and the state health insurance initiative.
He said, “We will help ensure that primary healthcare centres are not only revitalised but connected digitally to enable seamless access and portability of health records.”
He also advocated for the adoption of a sustainable franchise-based business model for healthcare delivery, designed to improve nationwide access and quality.
Adesina expressed his delight over the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Cross River, describing the project as a game-changer for the state’s economy.
In his remarks, Governor Otu reaffirmed his administration’s focus on driving economic independence and reducing overdependence on federal allocations.
He outlined three strategic pillars: security, food security, and energy security, as central to unlocking sustainable development in the state.
Governor Otu revealed that several dormant state-owned assets were being recovered and revitalised, significantly improving investor confidence and making Cross River one of Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.
He also announced plans to integrate Cross River into regional economic corridors with Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, while expanding agricultural productivity through large-scale cocoa, cassava, and other crops.
Reflecting on his recent annual vacation, he joked that he felt “younger and more energised,” ready to intensify efforts toward the state’s transformation. Otu thanked his deputy governor and cabinet members for their stewardship in his absence and described the state’s progress as divinely inspired.
Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, in his welcome address, said the banquet was a convergence of visionary leadership. He described Governor Otu as a “turbocharged” developer and lauded his commitment to infrastructure and economic growth.
Turning to Adesina, Duke described him as “Africa’s number one technocrat,” hailing his landmark initiatives like the electronic wallet for farmers (particularly during his tenure as Nigeria’s minister of agriculture and natural resources) and his legacy of driving agricultural transformation across the continent.
He praised both leaders for their alignment in vision and their dedication to inclusive development. He added that “Dr. Adesina is not just a leader—he is a divine pathfinder, illuminating Africa’s future,” Duke declared.
