Calabar, Nigeria —Cross River State Governor, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering stronger partnerships with Africans in the diaspora as a vital pathway for sustainable development, unity, and cultural renewal.

The Governor made the call on Monday during a state banquet held in honour of members of the Global United Christian Congress of Africa and the Diaspora (GUCCAD) at the Hogis Royale Conference Hall, Calabar. Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Governor Otu described the event as both a moment of joy and reflection, celebrating reconnection with descendants of Africans whose ancestors were taken away during the transatlantic slave trade, while also remembering the painful past.

He commended the resilience and global achievements of Africans in the diaspora across diverse sectors such as creative industries, manufacturing, science, and public service. Their accomplishments, he said, continue to bring pride, healing, and renewed hope to the African continent.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, Governor Otu underscored the virtues of forgiveness and reconciliation, stressing that though the scars of history remain, Africa’s collective future must be defined by unity, love, and mutual respect.

He urged diaspora investors to explore emerging opportunities in technology, agriculture, health, and education, assuring that his administration would provide the enabling environment for meaningful and sustainable collaboration.

“Cross River State is open for partnership and innovation,” he declared, inviting guests to experience the State’s world-renowned tourism destinations such as the Obudu Mountain Resort, Agbokim and Kwa Falls, and the pristine rainforests of Akamkpa and Boki.

Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, Prince Otu Okor, described the visit as the dawn of a new era of global cooperation, healing, and growth. He revealed that the mission of GUCCAD rests on six strategic pillars, investment, cultural exchange, education, reconciliation, reconnection, and reflection, designed to promote creativity, strengthen bonds, and drive mutual development.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Sir Gab Onah, noted that about 31 per cent of the 4.2 million slaves taken to the New World departed from Cross River’s coasts. He described the GUCCAD homecoming as a divinely orchestrated moment of spiritual and cultural restoration.

Delivering a vote of thanks, GUCCAD President, Professor Ijeoma Anicho Nwosu, expressed profound appreciation to Governor Otu and his team for their warmth and hospitality. She pledged continued partnership to promote the socioeconomic advancement of Cross River State while deepening diaspora relations across Africa and the world.