Cross River Governor Bassey Otu Wins Africa Food Heroes Award for Excellence in Food Security

The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has been honoured with the Best Governor Award in Food Security at the Africa Food Heroes Awards held on Thursday in Abuja.

Organised by the Centre for Agropreneurship and Green Economy (CAGE), the awards celebrate individuals and institutions making significant contributions to agriculture and food security in Nigeria. Hajiya Balaraba Abdulahi, a member of CAGE’s Board of Trustees, described the ceremony as a moment for national reflection, emphasizing that agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s economic stability and food sovereignty.

Abdulahi explained that the award recognises governors, policymakers, farmers, researchers, and agripreneurs driving agricultural transformation. She highlighted that awardees, including Gov. Otu, had achieved major milestones such as distributing farm inputs to thousands of farmers, rehabilitating critical access roads, and promoting staple crops like rice, maize, cassava, ginger, and wheat, alongside export commodities such as cocoa and oil palm. Innovative initiatives like Cross River State’s Project Grow, the Commercial Agriculture Development Fund, and collaborations with research institutions and NGOs exemplify effective approaches to food security and sustainable development.

Independent assessments showed improvements across awardee states through input distribution, feeder road rehabilitation, dry-season farming, and strengthened crop value chains. These interventions have expanded market access for smallholder farmers and enhanced rural livelihoods, particularly for women and youth. Abdulahi also commended the Federal Government for policy reforms and partnerships that reinforce state-level food security efforts, noting that the award highlights a commitment to building resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate, economic, and security challenges.

Receiving the award on behalf of Gov. Otu, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, dedicated it to God and praised the organisers for their transparent and democratic selection process. He affirmed the state government’s focus on policies and infrastructure to boost food production and strengthen food security for all residents, saying the recognition would encourage further investment in a resilient agricultural sector.

In a goodwill message, Prof. Walter Binang, former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, described the award as a distinguished recognition of excellence in agricultural transformation nationwide. Prof. Christopher Eze, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, noted that the event provided a platform to reflect on Nigeria’s urgent food security priorities, highlighting climate-smart agriculture, agropreneurship, and the resilience of farmers and researchers. He also commended CAGE’s plan to train 1,000 extension workers and 3,000 farmers across all states and the FCT.

Other awardees included governors of Osun, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Niger, as well as the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari. The ceremony also featured exhibitions, panel discussions, and investment dialogues promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Supporting food security in Cross River State, Peter Undiandeye, Chairman of Obudu Local Government Area, recently distributed 1,000 bags of fertiliser, agrochemicals, seedlings, and financial assistance to local farmers, aimed at boosting productivity and strengthening the local food supply.