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How five Cross River patriots answered the call — and what their stories tell us about service, courage and the state's future
Ukorebi Esien I October 6, 2025
CALABAR, October 2, 2025 — On a cool October night at Shettima Hall, the Destiny Cross River Awards declared, in no uncertain terms, that the highest calling for a public life in Cross River is sacrifice. The maiden edition brought together faith leaders, public servants, academics and traditional rulers to honour five people whose lives have been marked by uncommon service: Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON, Prof. Kelvin Etta, Chief Anthony Ani, CON, and Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa.
Under the pulpit voice of Archbishop Josef Bassey, convener of the Awards, the evening framed their stories not as personal triumphs but as building blocks of a collective destiny. a destiny that, the Archbishop said, "is not fulfilled by chance; it is secured by sacrifice." Below are fuller, human portraits of each awardee, the paths they took, the burdens they bore, and why the Destiny Awards chose to celebrate them while they still walk among us.
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| Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu Governor of Cross River State |
Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu – The Turnaround Manager of a New Cross River
Award: Destiny Cross River Grand Commander Award
When history remembers this era, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu (Sweet Prince), will be remembered as the man who restored confidence, order, and direction to Cross River State.
From the moment he assumed office as Governor, Otu demonstrated quiet but firm leadership, focusing on rebuilding institutions rather than making noise. His administration's People-First philosophy has reconnected government to the common man, revived moribund agencies, and rekindled hope among civil servants and investors alike.
Archbishop Josef Bassey, convener of the Destiny Awards, described him as "a turnaround manager who chose results over rhetoric." The cleric noted that while others complain, Otu works: "We have all the data, memos, and reports of the past administration, yet you have chosen silence and service over blame."
The Destiny Cross River Grand Commander Award was therefore conferred on Governor Otu for his intentional developmental strides, restorative leadership, and uncompromising focus on the collective destiny of Cross Riverians. His quiet transformation across infrastructure, education, and governance has repositioned the state — not with fanfare, but with faith and results.
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| Chief Kanu Agabi SAN |
Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON – The Legal Sage and Defender of Institutions
Award: Destiny Patriarchal Laureate Award
Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON, occupies a distinguished place in Nigeria's history as a jurist, public intellectual, and conscience of the legal profession. A two-time Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Agabi has spent decades at the heart of Nigeria's legal evolution, where the defense of truth often demands courage greater than ambition.
Born in Cross River State, Agabi's journey through public life has been defined by an unyielding devotion to principle. From his early days as a brilliant lawyer to his years shaping national legal discourse, he has stood firmly for the sanctity of the rule of law, constitutional order, and institutional integrity.
The Destiny Cross River Awards described him as "a man whose quiet intellect and moral courage have become pillars of Nigeria's democracy." His selection for the Destiny Patriarchal Laureate Award was not merely for longevity in service, but for his unwavering belief that justice is the soul of governance.
While receiving his honour, Chief Agabi, in his characteristic humility, said:
"This award is a tonic that will spur me to do more in the service of humanity."
That statement summed up the heart of his legacy — service renewed, never retired. Even in an era of politicised law, Agabi has remained a defender of institutions, reminding Nigerians that the legal profession must not serve power, but balance it.
For Cross Riverians, his recognition was deeply symbolic: it affirmed that integrity is still a public virtue. His name now stands in the roll of honour as a man who, through intellect, humility, and courage, ensured that Nigeria's democracy has a conscience and Cross River State, a model of moral service.
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| Prof. Kelvin Etta |
Prof. Kelvin Etta – The Unbending Reformer and Academic Visionary
Award: Destiny Patriarchal Defender Emeritus Award
If institutions are the memory of society, then Prof. Kelvin Etta has helped Cross River remember what discipline, integrity, and excellence look like. As former Vice Chancellor of both the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), his name has become synonymous with reform and courage.
Throughout his career, Prof. Etta has been a builder, sometimes gentle, often firm: but always focused on leaving behind systems that outlive individuals. His approach to leadership blended high standards with deep humanity, producing not just graduates but generations of leaders.
During his emotional acceptance speech at the Destiny Cross River Awards, he said:
"If there's anyone I must have hurt or offended in the course of my public service and in the pursuit of success with a determination to leave behind beautiful footprints in the sands of life, please find a place in your heart to forgive me. It wasn't intentional, but out of our passion to serve and succeed."
That heartfelt plea captured a truth often buried in leadership, that reform is rarely painless. His humility to seek forgiveness, even while being celebrated, demonstrated the soul of a man who understands that greatness demands grace.
For the Destiny Awards, Prof. Etta's selection carried profound symbolism. He personifies the educational backbone of Cross River's destiny, a state that thrives when learning and discipline coexist. His award, the Destiny Patriarchal Defender Emeritus, honoured his resilience, tenacity, and lifelong defence of academic excellence.
Prof. Etta's story is a masterclass in sacrificial leadership. His reforms, though sometimes uncomfortable, were driven by a passion to build strong institutions. His legacy is written not only in policies or buildings but in minds transformed and standards restored. In every sense, he stands as the conscience of education in Cross River, proof that when destiny calls, conviction must answer.
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| Etubom Anthony Ani |
Chief Anthony Ani, CON – The Financial Sage and Nation Builder
Award: Destiny Legends Protocol Award
To those who study Nigeria's fiscal history, Chief Anthony Ani, CON, is more than a public servant, he is an institution. A former Minister of Finance and one-time Chairman of the Akwa Ibom/Calabar Free Trade Zone Authority, Ani's name commands respect across business and government circles for his unflinching commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and long-term vision.
At a time when Nigeria's economy faced daunting uncertainty, Chief Ani stood out as a voice of reason and prudence. His leadership in economic management was marked by tough decisions taken not for applause, but for posterity. His stewardship helped to set parameters for responsible financial governance in a nation often distracted by politics.
The Destiny Cross River Awards described him as "a financial sage whose discipline sustained national growth and whose wisdom inspires generations." His recognition under the Legends Protocol Category reflected the organisers' desire to honour a lifetime of sacrifice in service to national prosperity.
For Cross River, his award is a reminder that financial integrity is foundational to the state's destiny. His life teaches that good governance is not about slogans, but systems — and that wealth, when wisely managed, can be a pathway to collective progress. The Destiny Legends Protocol Award thus stands as both a tribute and a challenge: that future leaders must serve with the same courage, restraint, and foresight that defined Chief Ani's decades of public service.
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| Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa |
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa – The Destiny Matriarch and Voice of the Voiceless
Award: Destiny Matriarchal Defender Award
Few names evoke compassion and courage in Nigeria's public space like Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, affectionately known as Mama Bakassi. Her life story reads like a chapter of Nigeria's conscience, decades of advocacy for the displaced, the voiceless, and especially the people of Bakassi whose plight she has championed for years.
A trailblazer in politics and social advocacy, Ita-Giwa's service has cut across the legislature, humanitarian causes, and women's empowerment. As a senator, she became a formidable voice for equity, and as a humanitarian, she has dedicated her life to rebuilding lives uprooted by conflict and displacement.
Receiving the Destiny Matriarchal Defender Award, she stood not just as an individual honouree but as a symbol of every woman who has fought to be heard. In her acceptance speech, she said:
"This honour is for every woman who has had to fight to be heard. It shows that our labour is not in vain."
The words drew a long ovation, not just for their sincerity, but for what they represented: the triumph of resilience over silence. Ita-Giwa's recognition as the first female recipient of the Destiny Awards sent a clear message, that leadership is not defined by gender, but by courage, compassion, and commitment to others.
Her decades of unrelenting advocacy for the Bakassi returnees have given hope to thousands and positioned her as one of Nigeria's most enduring voices for justice. The award organisers aptly described her as "the Destiny Matriarch , a mother to causes larger than herself."
Her selection is an acknowledgement that compassion too is sacrifice. Her life is a portrait of selfless service, proving that when destiny calls, love and humanity must answer.
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| Archbishop Josef Bassey |
The Convener: Archbishop Josef Bassey — Prophet and Catalyst
No account of the night would be complete without the convener himself. Archbishop Josef Bassey fashioned the Awards as a covenant: not merely ceremony, but a prophetic nudge toward a state that recognises, models and multiplies sacrificial service. His lines, "When leaders do wrong, we must say so. But when they do right, we must also acknowledge it" are a shortcut to the Awards' thesis: praise is corrective; praise is generative.
Why these awards matter
The Destiny Cross River Awards did more than hand plaques. It staged a moral argument: that public life must be about posterity, not just present advantage; that leadership is measured by what it leaves behind. Each awardee represents an element of that argument, institutional repair (Otu), rule of law (Agabi), educational resilience (Etta), financial stewardship (Ani), and social courage (Ita-Giwa).
The ceremony also modelled a public culture: honour today, not after the grave. Archbishop Bassey and Governor Otu both underscored the point. Otu's borrowed voice insisted that celebration of living patriots "strengthens the culture of sacrifice and inspires many more to follow their example." The Archbishop, for his part, framed the awards as a prophetic covenant to secure Cross River's destiny.
A simple covenant, a hard task
Destiny is not a slogan; it is a work plan. The people honoured on that night were chosen because their lives show how long and lonely that work can be. They remind us that when destiny calls, sacrifice answers, sometimes quietly, sometimes painfully, but always with an eye on what will outlast us.
As Cross River enters this season of rebuilding and hope, the Destiny Awards have given the state a readable template: celebrate courage, build institutions, forgive honestly, and keep faith with posterity. If those principles stick, the night at Shettima Hall will be remembered not only for the speeches and the applause, but for planting a culture that future leaders will be compelled to emulate.
The Meaning Behind the Awards
The Destiny Cross River Awards were conceived by Archbishop Josef Bassey to honour living patriots — men and women who have shaped the state through selfless service, integrity, and sacrifice.
The theme of the night, "When Destiny Calls, Sacrifice Answers," captured the heart of the event: to remind Cross Riverians that greatness demands giving up comfort for purpose.
Each awardee's journey, from politics to education, law to finance, and advocacy to governance, forms a mosaic of what true leadership looks like: sacrifice with vision.
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