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Rt Hon Orok Duke attends funeral service of Edisua Ita, pays glowing tribute to the late academic

The atmosphere in the ancient city of Calabar was somber on Saturday April 18, 2026, as the remains of the late Associate Professor Edisua Ita, a renowned academic, clergy woman, and development expert, were laid to rest. Among the high-profile dignitaries in attendance was Rt. Hon. Orok Duke PhD, who paid a moving tribute to the deceased who was his classmate (Class of 1981) Theater Arts at the University of Calabar. The funeral service, which drew mourners from the academia, civil society, and the clergy, served as an attestation to the multifaceted life of the woman fondly called "Aunty Edisua" and "Edi Mama." According to her biography, late Associate Professor Edisua Ita was born on December 30, 1964, in Calabar. She was the daughter of Etubom Asuquo Okon Ita and Elder Princess Mabey Essien Ita. She hailed from a pedigree of royalties spanning the Eki Clan and Asang Eniong Abatim. Her childhood was marked by sophistication; she grew up in Santa Isabel, Equatori...
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No Reversal of Economic Reforms Under Tinubu, Says Jimoh Ibrahim at IMF-World Bank Parliamentary Meeting in Washington DC

  Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not back down on the administration’s economic reforms despite current hardships, assuring that Nigerians will soon reap the benefits. Speaking at a parliamentary session on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, Ibrahim stressed that the reforms, though painful in the short term, are essential for long-term growth and national prosperity. He noted that no meaningful global economic progress can be achieved without addressing rising tensions around Iran, particularly the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to him, “No country can achieve significant economic development this year or thereafter until we jointly secure peace in the ongoing tensions involving Iran, especially as it concerns international passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” Ibrahim warned that disruptions in the region could trigger far...

Celebrating Transformational Leadership: Professor Francisca Bassey at UNICROSS

Today marks the birthday of Professor Francisca Bassey, the dynamic and amiable Vice Chancellor of University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), whose tenure has been defined by purposeful reforms, infrastructural renewal and people-centered leadership. Appointed Acting Vice Chancellor in January 2025 by the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and confirmed as substantive Vice Chancellor on July 17, 2025, Professor Bassey has, within a relatively short period, repositioned UNICROSS for excellence.  One of the most impactful milestones under her leadership is the approval and implementation of the new minimum wage for staff of the institution by the Cross River State Government. This development has significantly boosted morale and productivity across the university community. In addition, her administration moved swiftly to address longstanding academic and administrative challenges.  For instance, the creation of a Directorate of Exams a...

Joint National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission Inspects NDDC Road Projects in Cross River State

  Yesterday, 13th April 2026, a joint delegation of the National Assembly Committees on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from both the Senate and the House of Representatives undertook an oversight visit to key NDDC projects in Cross River state, including the reconstruction of Odukpani Junction–Okom Ita–Uyanga–Ehom road. The inspection team, led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and his House counterpart, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, alongside the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Executive Director Projects, Victor Antai assessed the quality and impact of the emergency reconstruction project and also debriefed the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu describing it as a critical intervention for rural connectivity and economic development in the region. Receiving the delegation at Government House, the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, expressed appreciation for the...

Nigeria’s UN Envoy, Jimoh Ibrahim, to Deliver Harvard University Keynote On Nation’s Future

  Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, will deliver a keynote address at Harvard University,barely days after assuming office at the UN Headquarters in New York. Ibrahim, who resumed last Friday as Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, received the invitation from Harvard, his alma mater. In accepting the invitation, Ambassador Ibrahim said the engagement reflects growing global interest in Nigeria’s reform agenda.  He noted that the forum would provide an opportunity to present key aspects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope strategy, particularly its focus on sustainable development and institutional reforms and long term economic transformation. The keynote will be delivered at the 10th anniversary conference of the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies on June 4, 2026, at the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall. The conference, themed “Building Lasting Institutions: Faith, Scholarship, and the African P...
  The Cross River State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke, has sent a warm and hearty congratulatory message to the First Lady of Cross River State, Her Excellency, Bishop (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, on the occasion of her birthday. In a statement on Friday, Duke described the First Lady as a "pillar of support, a beacon of hope, and a mother to the state," whose life has been dedicated to the service of humanity and the spiritual upliftment of the people. The NDDC Rep lauded the First Lady’s numerous humanitarian initiatives, particularly her "People First" social welfare programmes which have reached the vulnerable, the aged, and the less privileged across the eighteen local government areas of the state. He noted that her compassion and grace have significantly complemented the developmental strides of the Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu. "On behalf of my family and...

Bishop Eyoawan Otu @62: A Tribute to a First Lady with Purpose

  In a political climate where ceremonial roles often overshadow substance, the emergence of Bishop Eyoawan Bassey Otu as a force for tangible social change in Cross River State stands out as both refreshing and consequential. As she marks her birthday today, it is fitting to reflect not just on the passage of time, but on the depth of impact she has made since assuming the role of First Lady in 2023 alongside her husband, Governor Bassey Otu. From the outset, Bishop Otu has redefined the expectations of her office. Rather than settling into the comfort of ceremonial appearances, she has embraced a hands-on approach to governance support, particularly in the area of women’s empowerment. Across the state, her initiatives have consistently targeted economic inclusion, skill acquisition, and financial independence for women. What distinguishes her efforts is not merely their scale, but their consistency; empowerment programmes under her watch have become a near-monthly intervention, t...