June 29, 2026
The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, Esq., has on Monday conducted a fact-checking visit to selected public schools in Calabar to ascertain the true state of infrastructure following reports circulating on social media.
The fact-finding tour took the Commissioner to Government Secondary School, Akim, and Pinn Margaret Secondary School, Calabar South, where he interacted with school administrators and carried out an on-the-spot assessment of facilities.
Speaking during the visit to Government Secondary School, Akim, the Principal, Mrs. Amayo Edet, explained that the two classrooms featured in the viral social media videos have not been in use for over four years.
According to the principal, the school has a total of 17 classrooms, all of which are in good condition and available for teaching and learning, also with administrative facilities, except for the two abandoned classrooms. She stated that some of the damage recorded within the school was caused by students playing football inside classrooms, resulting in broken ceilings, damaged desks, and other facilities. She also attributed the vandalization of windows and other school infrastructure to hoodlums.
Mrs. Edet noted that the viral videos failed to present the true situation of the school, emphasizing that the majority of the classrooms remain conducive for effective teaching and learning.
At Pinn Margaret Secondary School, Calabar South, Professor Odey inspected the long-standing dilapidated structures and acknowledged the poor condition of some of the buildings. He noted that the structures had deteriorated long before the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
The Commissioner assured the school management that he would personally present the situation to Governor Otu, describing him as a leader with a strong passion for improving the education sector in Cross River State.
“Having seen the condition of the school firsthand, I will personally brief His Excellency, Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu. The Governor is passionate about education and remains committed to improving learning infrastructure across the state,” Senator Odey said.
He further urged school principals and administrators to maintain regular communication with the Ministry of Education by promptly reporting infrastructural challenges and other pressing concerns to enable the government to respond swiftly and appropriately. The inspection forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to monitor educational facilities across the state, verify public concerns, and ensure that government interventions are based on verified facts rather than misinformation.