C’River First Lady Urges Diaspora Community to Drive Development, Sustainability

By Hannah Arikpo

The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop (Dr.) Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, has called on Cross River indigenes in the diaspora to play a more active role in the state’s development, sustainability, and global visibility.

Speaking at a recent August meeting of the Cross River diaspora community in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Bishop (Dr.) Otu encouraged members to adopt and support primary healthcare centres, mentor small-scale businesses, sponsor scholarships, and amplify the state’s unique stories to the world.

Highlighting her ongoing humanitarian efforts, the First Lady cited the Mmadiaha Health Care Scheme, which provides free health insurance and maternal care to indigent women and children, alongside other interventions targeting mental health, gender-based violence, and rural development.

“We are one family, one heritage, and one future,” she declared, stressing that meaningful transformation in Cross River requires collective effort from both citizens at home and those abroad.

She commended the diaspora community for their sustained connection to the state and notable contributions across diverse fields such as medicine, law, technology, and entrepreneurship.

“I pray for God’s continued blessings upon you all,” she added.

Bishop Otu was accompanied on the trip by her Head of Protocol, Mrs. Alice Ndem, JP, and other prominent Cross Riverians.