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The Resident Ambassador of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) in Nigeria, Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty, has appealed to Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, to fast-track the signing of a cooperation agreement between the state and SOAD to enable the release of a $500 million development grant. Princess Eyo-Honesty made the call on Monday in Calabar while highlighting the potential economic benefits of the partnership to the state. She noted that the agreement, similar to the one already signed by the Bayelsa State Government a month ago, would pave the way for large-scale investments in key sectors of Cross River’s economy. According to her, the $500 million grant will be disbursed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) upon formalisation of the agreement between the state government and SOAD’s Prime Minister, Ambassador Dr. Louis-Georges Tin. She explained that the partnership seeks to promote sustainable bilateral relations between Cross River State and the African Diaspora community, in line with SOAD’s mission to strengthen African economic cooperation and integration. “The agreement will unlock vast development opportunities for the state, ranging from infrastructure to education, health, and agriculture,” Princess Eyo-Honesty stated. Projects proposed under the partnership include the creation of a smart city, solar energy park, industrial park, and an agribusiness hub. The collaboration also envisions Cross River’s participation in the Pan-African Agribusiness Commodity Exchange (PACE), expansion of the existing airport, and establishment of a Pan-African airline—Air Bird. In the health sector, SOAD plans to establish a medical complex comprising a hospital, faculty of medicine, and pharmaceutical plant. Similarly, the education component of the agreement includes plans for a new university with international academic partnerships with institutions already operating within the state. Describing the cooperation as a “win-win” arrangement, the ambassador emphasised that it would accelerate economic development and enhance the state’s global investment profile. She further noted that SOAD, officially inaugurated on February 3, 2023, operates as an African Union-recognised entity, following its endorsement at the second Ordinary Session of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique, on July 11, 2023. Princess Eyo-Honesty, therefore, urged Governor Otu to prioritise the signing of the cooperation agreement to enable Cross River State to benefit from the initiative. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
