๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง $๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฅ
The Resident Ambassador of the State of African Diaspora in Nigeria, Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty, has called on Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, to expedite the signing of a cooperation agreement between the State of African Diaspora (SOAD) and the state government.
Eyo-Honesty made the appeal in Calabar, explaining that the deal, once formalized by SOAD Prime Minister, Ambassador Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, would enable the release of a $500 million grant through the Central Bank of Nigeria to drive economic growth and infrastructure development in the state.
She noted that the agreement aims to promote sustainable partnerships and bilateral cooperation between Cross River and SOAD. The proposed projects include the creation of a smart city, solar energy park, industrial park, agribusiness hub, and participation in the Pan-African Agribusiness Commodity Exchange.
Other projects listed include expansion of the state airport, establishment of a Pan-African airline named Air Bird, and the development of a medical complex comprising a hospital, faculty of medicine, and pharmaceutical plant.
In education, she disclosed plans for a university in partnership with existing tertiary institutions within the state. She described the cooperation as a โwin-winโ initiative that would advance economic growth and human capacity development.
Princess Eyo-Honesty added that the African Diaspora, recognized by the African Union during its second ordinary session in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2023, continues to champion integration and development across the continent.
