Photo: Gov. Bassey Otu
By Michael Jegede
Less than two months into 2026, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu, received three prestigious honours from different institutions in recognition of his exceptional leadership and People-First governance agenda, which focuses on security, economic transformation, infrastructure renewal, industrial revival, and agricultural development.
In a remarkable display of excellence, on January 31, 2026, for instance, Governor Otu, widely known as ‘Sweet Prince’, was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Modibbo Adama University (MAU) in Yola, Adamawa State, same day The Sun Newspaper honoured him with its 2025 Governor of the Year award at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of MAU, Professor Ibrahim Umar, had noted that the decision to confer Sweet Prince with a Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) followed the approval of both the University Senate and Governing Council, underscoring the institution’s collective endorsement of Governor Otu’s leadership credentials and service record.
According to the professor of crop protection, “the honour reflects the University’s tradition of celebrating leaders whose careers embody service, integrity and societal impact,” maintaining that the governor’s public life has been marked by people-centred policies and a humane approach to governance, which, he said, “have earned him respect within and beyond the borders of Cross River State.”
The Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Sun, Mr. Onouha Ukeh, had also averred that The Sun Man of the Year award bestowed on Otu followed a thorough and independent evaluation of his performance since assumption of office as Cross River helmsman.
Mr. Okey noted that under Otu’s 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 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.”
About a month after, Otu was again at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was honoured as the 2025 Silverbird Man of the Year in the 20th edition of the prestigious Silverbird Man of the Year Awards, in acknowledgement of his strategic governance approach, commitment to institutional reforms and outstanding leadership in tourism development. The Silverbird award was said to highlight the significance of cultural heritage in shaping community growth and honours Otu’s dedication to promoting that essential part of Cross River’s identity.
A day after the Silverbird Man of the Year Award, the Vanguard Newspaper published Otu’s name as one of its awardees for the year 2025. According to Vanguard Newspaper publication, the Sweet Prince is to be conferred with Good Governance Award for Healthcare & infrastructure development. The award ceremony will also hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on April 24, 2026.
In the same vein, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), has announced that Otu, together with two other governors, will be among distinguished honourees at the 2nd edition of The Nigeria Broadcasting Awards (TNBA), slated for April 8, 2026, at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, BON revealed that Otu and his counterparts, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State are to be recognised for their dedicated support for the media industry and contributions toward the advancement of broadcasting in Nigeria. The body described Otu and the two others as “partners in progress whose commitment to media development continues to inspire institutional growth and professional excellence.”
Underlining the rationale for honouring Otu and the two other governors, BON stated that “their administrations have demonstrated remarkable goodwill and strategic support for media institutions,” adding that such recognition is intended to encourage stronger collaboration between government and the broadcast industry. The organisation further emphasized that “leaders who create enabling environments for media to thrive deserve to be celebrated as champions of democratic engagement and information dissemination.”
In November last year, Governor Otu received the ‘Best Governor Award in Food Security’ at the Africa Food Heroes Awards held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The awards, organised by the Centre for Agropreneurship and Green Economy, according to reports, celebrate individuals and institutions advancing agriculture and food security in Nigeria. It was noted that the Cross River helmsman has achieved major milestones in the wide distribution of farm inputs to farmers and the rehabilitation of critical access roads. Also, in the same year, he was conferred with the prestigious ‘Governor of the Year on Economic Transformation’ Award by the Daily Independent Newspaper, in recognition of his noteworthy strides in the rejuvenation of the state’s economy to make life better for Cross River people.
Still in 2025, the Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria gave Otu an award as the most outstanding Governor in Infrastructure Development in Nigeria. While presenting the award to the Cross River’s chief executive, the National Chairman of the Association, Princess Folashade Olabanj, represented by the Association’s Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Lawrence Onuchukwu lauded the Governor for enhancing the welfare of Vice Chairmen in Cross River State and boosting their morale, with the sponsorship of the Cross River State Local Government Amendment Bill assigning specific roles to the office of the Vice Chairmen of Council in Cross River State and providing high quality brand new SUVs as official vehicles for them.
The Champion of Made-in-Nigeria Products Award was equally in 2025 bestowed on Otu by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), in acknowledgment of his administration’s unwavering commitment to the growth and patronage of indigenous products and services. He was presented with the award at the 5th Adeola Odutola Lecture held in Lagos, where policymakers, development partners, and captains of industry assembled to celebrate contributions to the nation’s industrial advancement. The MAN president, Otunba Francis Meshioye, at the event, applauded Otu for walking the talk on local content development via pragmatic policies and procurement options that have encouraged domestic manufacturing and enhanced job creation. For him, “The Cross River example proves that leadership by example is the most powerful endorsement of the Made-in-Nigeria vision.”
Otu, in 2024, bagged the most MSME-friendly Governor of the Year Award. It was bestowed on him by the Federal Government through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) at the National MSME Conference 2024, which took place in Abuja. He was recognized for prioritizing the development and proliferation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Cross River State, and displaying a clear understanding of the pivotal role of MSMEs in driving economic growth and creating job opportunities.
The Michael Okpara Foundation and Verbatim Media Group, likewise in 2024, honoured the Sweet Prince with its highest prize, The Michael Okpara Leadership Award Premier’s Prize 2024 for Excellence in Governance, Service with Integrity. Presented to him at the 2024 edition of Michael Okpara leadership lecture and award program held in FCT, the organisers of the event explained that the esteemed Award was for “leaders in Nigeria and Diaspora who currently represent exemplary leadership and impactful public service spirit of Rt Hon Michael Okpara, Premier of Eastern Nigeria, 1959-1966.” They said Otu’s “integrity in public service policy and good governance leadership style, which has brought widespread infrastructural development and accountability in resource management, is in line with Dr Okpara’s template.”
The laudable efforts and achievements of the governor in the area of security were also recognised by the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS) in 2024. At a Security Conference and Awards Ceremony held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja and organised by the IIPS, Otu was named the “Best Security Conscious Governor of the Year 2024”.
According to the Director-General (DG) of IIPS, Dr Tony Ofoyetan, Otu emerged winner on account of his outstanding contributions to the enhancement of security across Cross River State. The IIPS DG reportedly hailed the governor’s administration for “its innovative and proactive approaches to security, particularly in addressing communal conflicts, curbing crime rates, and fostering peace in Cross River State.”
Within his first year in office, Governor Otu was said to have transformed Cross River into a digital and technological hub, earning the state Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) NG Award for Best State in Digital Innovation. Under his leadership, the state also secured the Overall Best Award at the 2024 Science and Technology Expo, as announced by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
These accolades and many others earned since he assumed office as the captain of Cross River’s Ship are believed to be a testament to Otu’s commitment to growth, development, and people-centric governance. They are seen as a clear reflection of the governor’s capacity to push initiatives that impact positively on the lives of Cross Riverians, from upgraded healthcare facilities, improved agriculture, better security architecture, enhanced educational infrastructure, to fostering a competitive and investment-friendly environment.
The slew of awards earned by Otu, in the estimation of observers, signal a brighter and more progressive future for Cross River, promising shared prosperity for all citizens in the state. It is believed that the awards celebrate a transformative, validated leadership, marking a new chapter of progress in Cross River State.
Many Cross Riverians are deeply enthusiastic about Otu’s proactive and result-oriented leadership, which has positively brought the state into the limelight and paved the way for the numerous awards. They are indeed proud of the governor for his outstanding performance and clear, purposeful vision for the people. They are equally happy to see that their governor is speedily building the state into a hub of progress and innovation via his People-First agenda, making it a model for other states to emulate.
Michael Jegede, a journalist, writes from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
