Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty urges Governor Bassey Otu to fast-track the SOAD cooperation deal, unlocking a $500m grant for Cross River’s development.
Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty, the Resident Ambassador of the State of African Diaspora (SOAD) in Nigeria, has called on Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, to expedite the signing of a cooperation agreement between his administration and SOAD, saying it would unlock vast development opportunities for the state.
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Speaking in Calabar on Monday, Princess Eyo-Honesty explained that the Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty appeal follows similar agreements already sealed by other governments with the SOAD administration.
She revealed that once signed, the partnership would facilitate the release of a $500 million grant through the Central Bank of Nigeria, following formal ratification by the SOAD Prime Minister, Ambassador Dr Louis-Georges Tin.
According to her, the funding aims to drive economic transformation across sectors — from infrastructure to agriculture — while strengthening bilateral cooperation between Cross River State and the State of African Diaspora.
“The grant would be released by the Central Bank of Nigeria after SOAD Prime Minister, Amb. Dr Louis-Georges Tin, formalises the partnership agreement with the state government. This agreement would facilitate the release of a $500m grant to support economic development in the state,” she stated.
Princess Eyo-Honesty disclosed that the cooperation framework includes the creation of a smart city, a solar energy park, an industrial hub, and an agribusiness centre connected to the Pan-African Agribusiness Commodity Exchange. Plans also cover the expansion of the state’s airport and the establishment of a Pan-African airline, to be called Air Bird.
In the health and education sectors, she noted that the partnership envisions a medical complex housing a hospital, a faculty of medicine, and a pharmaceutical plant, alongside the creation of a new university aligned with existing tertiary institutions in the state.
Describing the initiative as a powerful opportunity for mutual growth, Princess Eyo-Honesty emphasised that the agreement would be a “win-win” for both parties, promoting economic inclusion, innovation, and sustainable progress.
She reminded stakeholders that SOAD, recognised by the African Union in 2023, was established to foster deeper connections between Africa and its diaspora communities worldwide.
“The African Diaspora is an entity recognised by the African Union at its second ordinary session of the conference of heads of state in Maputo, Mozambique, on 11 July 2023,” she noted.
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Princess Eyo-Honesty urged Governor Otu to act swiftly, stressing that the signing of the agreement would mark a defining moment for Cross River’s future.
