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AYADE: A Future Architect In Conversation With History
By Oden Ewa
The future they say belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Leonard Sweet and Peter Drucker seemingly struck a common chord when they averred that the ‘future is not something we enter, the future is something we create and ‘the best way to predict the future is to create it’.
Inspiring young people through knowledge and mentorship is Ayade’s forte. For him, the future is very delicate and therefore, must be given deep attention.
Only recently, Ayade’s former commissioner for Health Dr. Betta Edu emerged the youngest party women leader in the history of frontline political parties in Africa, if not the world. She had been the youngest commissioner for Health in Nigeria; an amazon, whose competence not age, elevated her to the sublime position of Chairman, Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum.
The case of Betta, is one among thousands of youth inspired, mentored and aided by Senator Prof. Ben Ayade to attain great heights. Until 2015 when Ayade took the reins of power as governor of Cross River State, Betta Edu, like numerous others from Cross River who have gained prominence within the last 7 years, were merely lurking in the shadows.
Through Ayade, many young Cross Riverians have found their footings in life. They have conquered poverty. They have liberated themselves and families from the pangs of hunger. From stark obscurity, they now possess political and financial muscles and can decide the direction of the tides.
Imagined why he is paying #30,000 to 5 persons per polling unit across the state? Cross River has 3281 polling units. It will amaze you to know that Ayade has helped to build the dreams of 16405 young people across the state with a #30,000 monthly salary. Most of these youths, who dwell in the rural areas have since become self-employed by establishing businesses, which have also helped to further create jobs for several others.
Wondered what inspired Ayade’s establishment of Cross River Integrated Cotton Farm in Yala; Diary and Honey Farm in Obudu Ranch; Cross River Cocoa Expansion Project in Ikom; Cassava Processing Factory in Obubra; Cross River Rice Processing Mill and Factory in Ogoja and Yala; 3000tons Cocoa Processing Factory, Ikom; the Calabar Rice City (seeds & seedlings processing) Complex in Calabar; Ayade Integrated Farms in Obudu; Cassava Fields across the state; 24000 capacity Calachika Chicken Processing Factory in Calabar; Yellow Maize Feeds Production Factory, Calabar, Toothpick Production Factory in Ekori; Groundnut Processing Factory in Bekwarra; Noodles Production Factory in Calabar; Biofertilizer Production Plant, Calabar, the Calaba Pharmaceutical Factory, Calapharm; the Piles & Pylon Factory in Akamkpa; the Cross River Roofing Tiles Factory in Yala, Cross River Integrated Poultry farms, Odukpani; Cross River State Garment Factory, Calabar; the West Africa Fabrication & Construction Academy; Teachers’ Continuous Training Institute; University of Law and Medicine, Obudu; Obudu Passenger & Cargo Airport etc. and the training of over 5,000 youths on modern farming techniques and entrepreneurship? The future.
The future is the reason he embarked on such visionary projects as the Bakassi Deep Sea Port and the 275km Superhighway which serves as the evacuation corridor from the deep seaport, emptying into Benue state in Northern Nigeria. Both projects have the prospects of opening the state to over 1 million jobs and billions of naira in revenue, in months. Ayade’s target is to decouple the state from reliance on the centre. Yet again, the beneficiary is the future.
In a reenactment of Williams Shakespeare’s axiom: “it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”, governor Ayade once said to the youths: “you should be able to visualize where you intend to be in the future and assiduously work towards it, rather than sit back to accept whatever the future throws at you which often times sees you agonizing”.
Like Mahatma Gandhi, Prof. Ben Ayade believes that “the future depends on what we do today”.
Typically, while many politicians and acclaimed leaders in this clime are addictively thinking the next election, Ben Ayade is obsessively thinking the next generation. That is what real leaders do.
As an architect, you design the present with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially what you create today.
Soon, tomorrow will reckon with yesterday and the story will be told about a Ben Ayade who once altered the course of history and gave Cross River youths the wings to soar.
The understanding and appreciation of Ayade’s pottery of the future to which himself is the potter, necessitated the hosting of the famous Cross River State Youth Summit which held in Calabar on the 19th of February 2022. That, was the only way I thought we could mobilize my generation to jointly say thank you to a man who has given us a plethora of reasons to believe that the future is now.
Oden Ewa is Chairman, APC Youth Lobby Group, Cross River State
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NDDC At 25: Cross River’s Cynthia Oloko, 19, Emerges Second Place Winner At Miss Niger Delta 2025
...Deputy Governor, APC Chairman, and Senators Celebrate Her with Generous Cash Gifts
Miss Cynthia Iyowogoga Oloko, a 19-year-old from Cross River State, has emerged as the first runner-up (second place) at the Miss Niger Delta 2025 beauty pageant. The event, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Cynthia, a final-year student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she studies Human Anatomy, competed alongside nine other contestants representing the nine states of the Niger Delta—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
Crowned with the title “Pride of the Niger Delta”, Cynthia received a cash prize of ₦7.5 million for placing second in the pageant.
In recognition of her achievement and the pride she has brought to Cross River State, several political leaders and dignitaries extended their support. The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Dr Peter Odey, gifted her ₦3 million, the APC State Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Esq., JP, contributed ₦1 million, while the state’s two Senators jointly supported her with another ₦3 million—bringing her total cash reward to ₦14.5 million.
According to the organisers, all nine contestants underwent intensive training and were empowered with skills and starter kits to help them become self-reliant and impactful in their communities.
The Miss Niger Delta pageant is designed not just as a beauty contest, but as a platform to empower young women across the region. It aims to nurture leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development among participants. The initiative is rooted in the belief that empowering women is key to building stronger families, communities, and society at large.
Many past participants have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and community leaders. The programme, sponsored by the NDDC, is part of its commitment to identifying and nurturing young talents in the region.
This year’s overall winner received a brand-new car and ₦10 million, while the second runner-up (third place) received ₦5 million. The remaining six contestants each received ₦1 million as a consolation prize.
Miss Cynthia Oloko was born in 2005 to Engr. and Mrs Cosmas Oloko Ekawu. She attended Trailblazers Academy in Gwarinpa, Abuja. Her hobbies include swimming, running, networking, and travelling. She aspires to build a career in entrepreneurship and politics, with a strong passion for leadership and community development.
Congratulations Miss Cynthia
The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State, Hon Dr Fred Okem has dissolved all revenue agencies operating in the Council with effect from 31st December 2024.
Hon Dr Fred Okem, Chairman Yala Local Government Area
This was contained in a release on Monday 6th January 2025 by the Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Unah.
The Chairman also cautioned that anyone who flouts the directive would be handed over to the security agencies for proper action in line with relevant laws.
The local government helmsman is expected to reposition the revenue agencies with the aim of boosting internally generated revenue in the council for adequate measures towards the development of Yala in line with the People First Agenda of the State government.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Ms. Grace Ike, has been named Nigeria’s Media Personality of the Year 2024. This prestigious recognition was conferred by the Editorial Board of Good Governance Today Nigeria at a grand ceremony held at the National Merit House, Abuja.
NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike
In addition to the honour, Ms. Ike was inducted into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame—a testament to her exemplary contributions to leadership and professional journalism in Nigeria.
The award acknowledges Ms. Ike’s uncommon leadership qualities and her unwavering commitment to advancing journalism as a tool for national development. Her selfless service to humanity, her state and the nation has made her a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
Speaking at the event, the organiser and the managing editor of Governance Today , mr Sylvester Abudu Omose commended Ms. Ike’s visionary leadership and her remarkable strides in reshaping the landscape of journalism in Nigeria. Her relentless dedication to using journalism to advocate for transparency, justice, and public enlightenment was described as both inspiring and transformative.
“Ms. Grace Ike’s achievements transcend the ordinary. She has redefined what it means to serve humanity through journalism. Her work exemplifies the power of the media in fostering societal progress and governance,” the board stated.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Ike represented by one of her media aides, mr Ademola Adepoju expressed her gratitude for the recognition and attributed her success to the collective efforts of her team at NUJ FCT Council and the support of stakeholders in the journalism community. She reiterated her commitment to promoting ethical journalism and upholding the values of truth, accountability, and service to humanity.
“This award is not just a recognition of my efforts but a call to do even more. Journalism is the lifeline of democracy, and we must continue to use it to uphold justice and transparency for the betterment of our society,” Ms. Ike remarked.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the media, government and civil society, who lauded Ms. Ike’s achievements and pledged continued support for initiatives that promote good governance and ethical journalism in Nigeria.
As Ms. Grace Ike steps into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame, her legacy as a leader, journalist, and advocate for humanity continues to inspire a new generation of professionals committed to making a difference in their communities and the nation at large.
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