joshuaOur library when completed will be one of the most modern in Nigeria – Governor Otu
The governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu, has said that the dilapidated state library being rebuilt to enhance research and improve reading culture of Cross Riverians, will become one of the best in the country upon completion.
Otu stated this in a recent interview with some newsmen where he spoke extensively on the monumental achievements and significant headways so far made in the efforts of his administration to put Cross River on the path of economic growth and development.
According to the governor in the interview published by The Sun Newspaper, “As an administration, we inherited a moribund state library. And as a state desperate to reposition our educational system, there was an urgent need to change the ugly shape of our library to enhance not only research but also improve the reading culture in our people. If you look at the cost of education today, it is very difficult for the people and students to acquire all the information they need to face off with their peers around the world. And that is why the Library is very important. The library will be one of the most modern in Nigeria by the time we are done with it. The edifice already gives the impression and the picture of what the library is going to be.”
Otu who is vigorously and relentlessly pursuing the actualization of his People-First agenda to fulfil his campaign promises to Cross Riverians, added: “Generally, we have restructured our educational institutions in a way that we would be able to produce professionals in terms of middle level manpower. Within the next few years, with the programmes we have been putting on ground, our students would be able to come out of schools and have a job. It would be recalled also that shortly after we came into office, my administration ensured that we enrolled about 16000 of our students for the West African Examination Councils fully paid for by the government and amounting to over half a billion naira. Most of the technical jobs that we need today, we import and outsource almost all of them. This scenario is going to change very soon. Even in our medical schools, we have begun to set up programmes that will rearrange that sector.
“In terms of creating a conducive learning environment, last year, we put in about three billion naira and this year we have increased it to about seven billion naira to make sure that we revive all our schools. We have provided more than enough chairs. Our population is also multiplying daily, so we are trying to moderate and strike a balance. We are doing our very best to close the gap. By the time we put in the next investment, no child would be sitting on the floor anymore.
“We have also introduced a programme where we would get to them better by utilising the services of retired teachers in the localities as inspectors. Government has also extended the initiative to our health care system to have real-time feedback on what is working and what is not working. That way, we will know where exactly to put in more effort.”
Speaking on Infrastructural development, he noted: “When we came in as a government, we promised the people that we would regain all our assets. We also promised to visit all abandoned projects. However, we discovered that the economy was the worst hit because of dilapidated infrastructure, particularly roads.
“Refusing to be deterred, or give excuses, we decided to take the bull by the horns, in spite of the odds. So, infrastructure has been a focus for us and, to some extent, we have tried to make sure we fix all the loopholes in that corner.
“Specifically, on roads, we have done quite a number in the state capital with a focus now in the Central Senatorial District covering Yakurr and Ikom, as well as in the Northern Senatorial District also covering Ogoja and Yala. Our concentration majorly has been to open up the major roads that would lead to where we have agricultural produce, and where there are major commercial activities.
“In Yache and Ukelle, where we have challenging terrains, we are working hard to make sure that we get the roads in those communities restored. We are equally replicating our efforts in the villages to make sure that we open up roads where our people can bring their farm produce easily to the market. In Cross River the rain is usually heavy, and this hindered some of the projects, but we still did the best we could. We have done quite a lot and the people are very happy.”
In the area of agriculture, the Cross River helmsman further remarked: “We recognise the fact that the state has a comparative advantage in agriculture, including but not limited to food and cash crops, aquaculture, poultry and animal husbandry. So, it is only proper that the sector receives adequate attention. What we are doing in agriculture is massive; very massive. We are already harvesting our rice. We are also into cocoa and cassava, for which the Federal Government is willing to partner with us. We are looking to populate all the agro-value chains. We have what it takes. We have restructured the sector for maximum outflow of benefits. We have done a number of soil inspections and investigations, and have gotten digital reports. With what we have done, you can sit anywhere and be informed about the chemical content needed for soils. We have had meetings with a series of partners who are coming in soon. We have got schemes and are sending out people for training. We have over 200 Cross Riverians sent out for training and as they come back, we will fix them up. So, in terms of agriculture, we are not joking at all. We are addressing our food security challenge proactively. The vision we have is to feed Nigeria, not just Cross River State. We are beginning to see prices of things come down. We are very passionate about agriculture and we would deliver.”
He is also taking laudable steps in other sectors such as tourism, health, commerce, science and technology, to regain the lost glory of Cross River and take the state to enviable heights.
