By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, has inaugurated the Governing Council of the Cross River State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Obubra, with a charge to the members to drive innovation, research, and ethical governance in advancing agricultural education and food security in the State.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held recently at the State Executive Chambers in Calabar, Governor Otu emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of Cross River’s economy and a key driver of employment, industrialization, and poverty reduction.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of our State’s economy and a unique sector that can lift our people out of multidimensional poverty because of its boundless value-chain potentials and food security guarantee,” the Governor stated.
He described the College as a vital institution for producing middle-level manpower that would sustain the State’s agricultural transformation agenda. The Governor urged the new Governing Council to “hit the ground running” by formulating strategic policies to enhance academic excellence and foster research-driven solutions in agriculture.
“Today’s world is driven by innovation and technology,” Otu said. “You must encourage research that increases crop yield, reduces labour intensity, maximizes land use, and drives the agricultural revolution in our State.”
The Governor further tasked the Council to identify both short and long-term infrastructural needs for government consideration, while stressing that financial transparency and community harmony must guide their administration.
“My government is anchored on ethical governance; financial probity must be your watch word,” he charged. “You are expected to account for every fund allocated to your institution.”
He called for cordial relations between the College and its host community, urging proactive engagement and patronage of local services such as security, cleaning, and gardening to strengthen community cooperation.
Responding on behalf of the Governing Council and management of the institution, the Chairman, Prof. Gertrude Njar, expressed deep appreciation to the Governor for the trust reposed in them, describing their appointment as “a favour with quantum of grace.”
He lauded Otu for the swift passage of the College of Agriculture (Amendment) Bill, which upgraded the institution to a College of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, describing the legislative process as “record-breaking and unprecedented.”
“The College has the potential to contribute immensely to environmental sustainability through tree planting, which will improve forest cover, reduce carbon emissions, and mitigate ozone layer depletion,” Njar stated.
However, the Council Chairman appealed to the Governor to address key infrastructural and logistical challenges facing the institution, including poor funding, dilapidated buildings, lack of vehicles, electricity, water supply, and accommodation for staff and students.
“Of about 15 existing buildings, only two are not leaking,” she lamented. “There is no electricity on campus, the generators are grounded, and water supply is grossly inadequate. We appeal for urgent intervention to enable us to function effectively.”
Prof. Njar assured the Governor that the Council would not disappoint the confidence reposed in it and pledged to work in alignment with the administration’s ethical governance principles and agricultural development vision.
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