Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has received the Best Governor Award in Food Security at the Africa Food Heroes Awards, held on Thursday in the federal capital.
The recognition highlights his administration’s efforts to strengthen agricultural production and improve food security across the state.
The awards, organised by the Centre for Agropreneurship and Green Economy (CAGE), celebrate individuals and institutions making significant contributions to agriculture and food systems development in Nigeria.
A member of CAGE’s board of trustees, Balaraba Abdulahi, said the ceremony served as a moment of national reflection, stressing that agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s long-term economic stability and food sovereignty.
According to her, the awards were established to honour governors, policymakers, farmers, researchers and agripreneurs who are driving transformation within the agricultural sector.
She noted that evaluations carried out by CAGE showed that award-winning states had recorded major milestones, including the wide distribution of farm inputs to thousands of farmers and the rehabilitation of critical access roads that support the movement of farm produce.
Ms Abdulahi added that many states, including Cross River, had promoted the cultivation of staple crops such as rice, maize, cassava, ginger and wheat, alongside important export commodities including cocoa and oil palm.
She further highlighted innovative programmes such as Cross River State’s Project Grow, the Commercial Agriculture Development Fund, and strategic partnerships with research institutions and non-governmental organisations as examples of forward-thinking approaches to achieving sustainable agriculture and long-term food security.
Independent assessments, she said, showed measurable improvements in input distribution, feeder road rehabilitation, dry-season farming and strengthened value chains for crops such as rice, cassava, maize and cocoa.
These interventions, she explained, had expanded market access for smallholder farmers and improved rural livelihoods, particularly for women and young people.
Ms Abdulahi also commended the Federal Government for ongoing policy reforms and partnerships that support state-led agricultural initiatives and reinforce national food security efforts.
She added that the award underscored a collective commitment to building resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate, economic and security-related challenges.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo, who received the award on behalf of Governor Otu, dedicated the honour to God and praised the organisers for what he described as a transparent and democratic selection process.
He said the recognition would further encourage people-centred development in the state, adding that the government remained focused on strengthening agricultural policies and infrastructure to boost food production and ensure food security for all residents.
Mr Ebokpo stated that the award would serve as additional motivation for the state to intensify its efforts in building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.
Source: People Gazette
