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Santuscom Agro Investment Group Partners Cross River Govt On Food Security
By Ebriku John Friday
In line with Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu-led administration’s Project Grow, the management of Santuscom Agro Investment Group, owners of Ogoja Rice brand (vitaminised & 100% stone free) and Ogoja Palm Oil, has concluded plans to partner with the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development on food production and food security.
The Managing Director/CEO of SANTUSCOM AGRO Investment Group, Chief Ofana Paul Santus, who visited Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo in his Office, briefed the commissioner, where they both agree to partner, boost production and guarantee food security.
According to Chief Ofana, the visit became necessary, hence, the sincerity of purpose and honesty of intention of His Excellency Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State, and his “People First,” Agenda, and the Commissioner’s passion to drive the Agricultural Sector purely business based.
He said, “We are here primarily on a familiarisation tour and to seek ways on which we can partner with the State through the Ministry of Agriculture on how we can harness the Agricultural potentials, and key into the vision of the State Government to contribute our quota for food self-sufficiency.
“We have been in business for over 5 years and never has the State in the last decade shown commitment to take advantage of our potentials available because we have identified in the past years that the State is very rich in Agriculture, hence to drive the sector as a business and a major source of internally generated revenue (IGR) to alleviate her financial quagmire, which previous government only play politics in the sector, lip services and fun fare.
“It’s time for our people to begin to enjoy the benefits of Agriculture and the rice-chain incentives and especially the young people to understand what truly going into Agriculture entails; and not the approach in the past in providing loans without training, monitoring, supervision and off takes of the farm produces which is the only sure way to grow agribusiness. Agriculture shouldn’t be seen as a dirty and poor profession”
Chief Ofana, said his conviction to partner with the State is based on the “capacity to render training, develop a database who can participate and where?, aggregating and formation into clusters for easy monitoring and evaluation from our Farmers Field School in Ogoja, were we draw resource persons and the best of professionals from the industry to come and impart knowledge over a given period on how to go into commercial farming with the benefits that come with the key areas of irrigation rice farming taking a cue from our over 1000 hectares Irrigated Rice Farm in Yala, and how can they even get their produce to the market.
“It’s a proposal we want to get across to the Government to work out a partnership to better the State Agricultural sector in its entirety so that we can be exporting Agricultural products and that’s why we are here to proffer our expertise. If you see the way the anchor borrowers were fashioned and designed couldn’t work by transferring money directly to purported farmers’ accounts and expected to make some returns and pay back the loans. It’s a good idea that the Government is thinking again in that direction for farmers and young people to benefit, trying to guarantee arrangements, but this hasn’t as a result of variables that we are coming to proffer solutions to,” he concluded.
Responding, the Honourable Commissioner of Agricultural and Irrigation Development thanked Chief Ofana and his Team for the courtesy visit and pre-briefing proposal as noble and appreciated the interest to key into the vision of the Governor Otu-led Administration especially in the Agro Sector that will eventually become the major generator of revenue and employer of labour in the State.
The Agriculture Commissioner said, “I welcome you all on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development. We appreciate your pre-proposal briefing taking into cognizance of our overloaded schedule throughout the day and we thank you for that understanding.
“We know you, we know your farm Ogoja and Yala and how you have built capacity over the years and we today have a brand called Ogoja Rice that is sold in different parts of Nigeria. And for us here, we want to encourage you and others to invest in the Agricultural and Irrigation Sector. We have heard you very loud and clear, and we know you are talking about ‘Project Grow’. The project’s desktop activities will take place when Stakeholders like you come together and sit to deliberate on a lot of issues before the project is rolled out.
“What we want to tell you is that, we deliberately want upscale rice production and luckily for us, you have a major paddy processor. So it is on the basis that we know that by the time you can get more paddy, we can scale up your activities with the School Farming Scheme/Project that will bring in early farmers and not wait until they retire before venturing into Agriculture. Let’s catch them young from Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary, so they grow up to become Agronomists, Agricultural economists, and Soil Scientists because this is what is obtainable in Kebbi, Plateau, and Kano.
“There’s a need for us to get them interested so that they can go on to specialized and not just a general knowledge person and only so doing that than the Governor Otu’s Agric Revolution be sustained and outlive his legacy,” he concluded.
In attendance was the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ekpe Bassey, Director of Administration, Mr. Christopher Achong, Director, Agric. Services, Mr. Henry Etta, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Cliff Oyira, and Director Tree Crops, Mr. Ubi Ubana, amongst others.
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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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