The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Lokoja, FUL, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has felicitated the governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, on the Leadership Prize of the Gold Plaque Category, presented to him at the 2024 Michael Okpara Leadership Lecture and Award held in Abuja on Thursday.
The event was organised to reflect on the life and time of Dr. Michael Okpara (1920-1984), a foremost politician and medical doctor, who served as Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, from 1959 to 1966, with a view to promoting good governance and rectitude in public service.
The organisers if the award, Michael Okpara Foundation and Verbatim Media Group, Governor Otu earned the award on account of his “integrity in public service policy and good governance leadership style, which has brought widespread infrastructural development and accountability in resource management, in line with Dr Okpara’s template.”
In his congratulatory message to the governor, Ndoma-Egba, a former Senate Leader and former chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, described the award as a well-deserved honour for the man, who is seen to be working tirelessly with great zeal and commitment to take Cross River State to an enviable height and redeem its lost glory.
The FUL Pro-Chancellor noted that with Otu’s excellent performance in the governance of Cross River State, many more awards were bound to come his way.
He said, “I congratulate our amiable governor, Senator Bassey Otu on his well-deserved and well-earned Michael Okpara Leadership Award for good governance. Dr. Okpara was himself an outstanding leader and the award recognizes outstanding contemporary leadership for which Governor Bassey Otu manifestly qualifies. This is just the beginning of many more awards to come.”
The senator representing Cross River South senatorial district, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, in his message of congratulations to the governor, remarked, “On behalf of the good people of the Southern senatorial district of Cross River State, I am proud to congratulate His Excellency, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, the governor of Cross River State on receiving The Premier’s Prize 2024, Gold Plaque award category, conferred by the prestigious Michael Okpara Foundation.
“Like a gold fish that has no hiding place, your tremendous strides in just one year in office, are being recognized by the world. I wish you even more success as you continue to take our state to even greater heights.”
The Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Michael Odere, and staff of the ministry also rejoiced with the governor. A congratulatory message signed by the commissioner reads, “The honourable commissioner and staff of the Ministry of Finance, Cross River State, felicitate His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, the executive governor of Cross River State on meriting the prestigious Michael Okpara Leadership Premier Prize for 2024 – The Gold Plaque Award for Excellence in Governance.
“Your vision, focus and great zeal for selfless service are rare qualities that have stood you out for this recognition. May your unwavering determination, profound wisdom and visionary leadership continue to illuminate paths towards building a better society.
“We pray for God’s abundant wisdom and strength to enable you achieve more.”
The Managing Director, MD, of Faith Plant Global Services Limited, Evangelist Michael Asuquo, in extending his felicitations to the governor, said, “Your Excellency, this award is timely and well deserved considering the fact that in just one year in office, your success story in governance has become infectious and unprecedented in the history of our dear state.
“We are blessed to have a God-fearing man as governor, and we know that God sent you to reposition and bring back glory days to our dear state.”
