By joshua 
Governor Otu wins Sun’s 2025 Man of the Year Award
Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has won the 2025 edition of the Sun Newspaper Man of The Year Award.
This was revealed by the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Sun, Mr. Onouha Ukeh, when he led the management of the media outfit on a courtesy visit to officially intimate the governor of his nomination for the award.
According to The Sun’s boss, the award followed a rigorous and independent assessment of Otu’s performance since assumption of office, as Cross River helmsman.
Applauding the governor for his remarkable and people-centred development strides within two and half years in office, Mr. Ukeh said: “Under your leadership, Cross River State has consolidated its status as a place of peace and stability. Your conscious efforts to provide the requisite infrastructure, formulate the right policies and provide incentives, have made tremendous impact. You have attracted scores of Foreign Direct Investments, which has caused a boost in the Internally Generated Revenue to about N40 billion per month and boosted the economy of the state. You have also shown commitment to the realisation of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, which you described as central to the state’s economic revitalisation.
“Your administration set a record by being the first in the South South region to launch an ambitious 365-kilometer rail line project, connecting Calabar to Obudu, a project aimed to enhance transportation and economic integration within the state.
“With ‘Project Grow’ programme, your administration has revitalized agriculture in the state. Apart from investing in mechanized farming, and diversifying crop production, your government allocated hectares of land for the production of cassava and donated boats to fishermen to enable them to fish in large quantities. Your government also provided tractors for small-scale farmers to ease their jobs and produce crops massively. At present, the state has become one of the largest cocoa producers.
“In the education sector, your administration has encouraged young girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to prepare them for the future. The girls were initiated into a programme known as the STEM Initiative. The University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Cross River State University have equally received more facilities and hostels to accommodate more students. Your government also declared free tuition for Cross Riverians in Public Primary and Secondary Schools in the state to enable all to get a basic education.
“Under your watch, the health sector has received commendable attention. Most local government hospitals and healthcare centres have received a new look and have been equipped to meet the minimum standard. Your government established Jennifer Etuh Medical Facility, a state-of-the-art hospital for the people and is actively responding to health crises.”
Responding, Governor Otu said that his selection as Man of the Year by the Sun Newspaper would spur him to do more for the betterment of Cross Riverians.
“I thank God for this and also The Sun for doing an independent investigation to see what we are doing. For all we have done, the aim is to impact positively on the society. I am very happy for this and Cross Riverians will be happy as well.
“This award will spur us to do more; we will continue to improve the state; we will continue to work hard to take the state to where we want it to be,” Governor Otu remarked.
The Sun Award will be presented to Otu, one of the top performing governors in the country who has gained total acceptability and massive endorsement of his people for second term, at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 31, 2026, alongside other awardees.