Resident Ambassador of the State of African Diaspora (SOAD) Nigeria, Princess Evelyn Eyo-Honesty, has urged the Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, to sign a cooperation agreement with the organisation to facilitate the release of a $500m grant to support the state’s economic development.
The ambassador gave the charge on Monday in Calabar, the state capital while giving insight on what the state stands to benefit from the cooperation agreement if finally signed.
Eyo said the grant would be released via the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after the SOAD prime minister, Amb. Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, formalises the partnership agreement with the state government.
She said the Cross River governor should emulate his Bayelsa State counterpart, who signed the agreement a month ago.
Eyo added that the partnership aims to promote sustainable bilateral relationships and cooperation between Cross River State and SOAD.
She said projects and infrastructural development that would be tackled by the proposed agreement include, creation of a smart city, solar energy park, and industrial park.
Others, according to her, include establishment of an agribusiness hub and participation in the Pan-African Agribusiness Commodity Exchange (PACE), enlargement of the existing airport and establishment of a Pan-African airline company, to be called Air Bird.
She said the organisation would spread its tentacles in the creation of a medical complex with a hospital, faculty of medicine, and pharmaceutical plant.
In the area of Education, the resident ambassador averred that the organization has plans to establish a university with academic relationships with other tertiary institutions operating in the state.
She emphasised that the agreement would be a win-win for both parties, promoting economic development and cooperation.
The resident ambassador who stated that the organization came into being on February 3, 2023, urged the state governor to expedite action on the signing of the agreement to unlock the benefits of the partnership.
“Considering that the African Diaspora is an entity which was recognized by the African Union in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) by the second ordinary session of the conference of heads of state of the African Union in Maputo (Mozambique in July 11, 2023”. she maintained.
