CROs Endorse Otu’s Social Investment Programme, Say It Will Benefit the Poorest

Ukorebi Esien | July 21, 2026

CALABAR – Community Relations Officers (CROs) from the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State have expressed strong confidence in Governor Bassey Otu’s Social Investment Programme, saying the initiative would significantly improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable residents across the state.

The officers gave the endorsement following the recent training of Ward Development Officers organised by the Office of the State Coordinator, Social Investment Programme in preparation for the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) project and skills acquisition programme targeted at over 150 Cross Riverians.

Speaking shortly after the training held at Axari Hotels in Calabar, Comrade Nkese Ita of Bakassi said the governor’s people-driven agenda had continued to inspire confidence among grassroots stakeholders.

Ita, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues from the Southern Senatorial District, noted that the social investment programme would provide much-needed relief to poor households, particularly through direct cash transfers and vocational training opportunities.

“Projects and programmes such as this will go a long way in assisting the poorest of the poor within our communities. It will serve as start-up support for small table businesses while also equipping others with skills that will add value to their lives and provide them with lifelong income-generating opportunities,” she said.

She described Governor Otu as “God-sent” to the state, adding that his administration had transformed the fortunes of Cross River through deliberate policies aimed at improving the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Ita also commended the governor for sustaining a stable local governance system, which she said had allowed development and democracy to trickle down to the grassroots through the local government structure.

“Governor Otu’s deliberate efforts to allow democracy to thrive at the local government level have sustained democratic governance at the third tier of government and brought development closer to the common man,” she added.

Also speaking, Hon. Edem Effiwat of Calabar South Constituency I described Governor Otu as a “stabiliser” who had brought political stability to the state and carried all segments of society along.

Effiwat praised the governor’s humanitarian efforts, particularly his commitment to people-centred programmes such as social investment projects, youth empowerment initiatives, and skills acquisition schemes.

The CROs specifically hailed several other empowerment and human capital development programmes introduced by the Otu administration, including the planned empowerment of 4,500 youths across the 18 local government areas of the state through the Cross River Youth Development Summit.

They also referenced the People’s First Youth Skills and Empowerment Programme, which offers training in tailoring, shoemaking, poultry farming, aquaculture, and basic ICT, as well as the administration’s ICT training initiative designed to develop world-class digital talents among Cross River youths.

In addition, the officers applauded the governor’s support for entrepreneurship development programmes aimed at equipping young people with business skills, mentorship, and access to economic opportunities.

Earlier in his address, the State Coordinator of the Social Investment Programme, Hon. Edem Effiom, explained that the training was designed to build the capacity of Ward Development Officers to update the State Social Register and ensure the successful implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.

He noted that the programme forms part of the state government’s broader effort to strengthen social protection, reduce poverty, and empower vulnerable households across the 196 wards of Cross River State.

Effiom added that the government plans to train 196 Ward Development Officers and 25 Local Government Liaison Officers across the state, while 100 beneficiaries are expected to receive direct cash transfers and others benefit from skills acquisition and empowerment support.

Photo Gallery