Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has called on Cross Riverians in the Diaspora, United States of America (CRID-USA) to partner with the dynamic educentric posture of his administration.

Otu made the call recently in an address as Special Guest of Honour presented during the CRID-USA Convention and Gala 2026 held at the Ontario Convention Center, California, USA, with the theme: “The role of Cross Riverians in the Diaspora in advancing Education in Cross River State.”

The governor,  represented by the chairman of the occasion and former governor of Cross River, Chief Clement Ebri, explained that the partnership would help to actualise his administration’s desire to ensure rehabilitation of schools infrastructure, deploy competent teaching personnel, clear the backlog of teacher salaries, and invest in STEM and digital literacy.

“We cannot do it alone. We need you. I would like to invite you to partnership using the five fingers of my hand:

“Finger 1: Adopt a School Programme: Sponsor a public primary or secondary school in your LGA. Fund libraries, labs, water, and teacher training. We will provide a framework for accountability and recognition.

“Finger 2:Scholarship Endowments: Create endowment funds for students in STEM, Medicine, Artificial Intelligence, Tourism and Teaching. Not one-off scholarships, but funds that live beyond us.

“Finger 3. Skills and Mentorship Exchange: Volunteer virtually to mentor students, train teachers, and bring global best practices home. A 1-hour Zoom class from Chicago or Houston can change a student’s life in Calabar or Ogoja.

“Finger 4. Digital Infrastructure: Help equip smart classrooms and digital learning hubs. The world is digital, and our children must not be left behind.

“Finger 5. Diaspora Education Trust Fund: Let us work together to establish a CRID USA Education Trust Fund, managed transparently, to support infrastructure, teacher welfare, and innovation in our schools,” the governor noted.

Governor Otu restated the commitment of the state government to ensure transparency and accountability in every partnership project; provide matching support for Diaspora-led initiatives where feasible; protect and recognise contributors through our “Cross River Education Champions Programme” as well as make Cross River the safest and most welcoming place for CRID-USA to invest their time and resources and hold regular interface with you and your leadership, at home and abroad.

“Always remember that you are not “abroad.” You are an extension of Cross River. Your success is our success. Your children, even if born in Texas or Maryland, carry the blood of the Efik, Ejagham, Bekwarra, Boki, and all our peoples.

“Let us write a new story. A story where Cross River becomes Nigeria’s education hub, not because of federal allocation, but because of the love and investment of her sons and daughters at home and abroad.

“Let our story be one of a diaspora that refused to forget, and a home that refused to fail. Let the world see that when Cross Riverians at home and abroad join hands, we don’t just build schools, we build destiny,” he stated.

He stated that a collaborative partnership has been the Cross River way of life, noting that, the theme, “The Role of Cross Riverians in Advancing Education in Cross River State” is timely.

The governor stressed that the call was imperative “because if we want Cross River to lead Nigeria with global impact in the next 20 years, it will not be by oil or politics alone. It will be by the minds we build today and the hopes we weave into the light of strategic knowledge that propels civilized development.”
The ceremony which was attended by CRID-USA members and the former governor of Rivers, Chief Rufus Ada George, featured display of cultural dances.