PRESS RELEASE
The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Adi Odey, Esq, has highlighted remarkable achievements recorded in the education sector under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, describing the last three years as a period of unprecedented growth, reforms, and strategic investments aimed at repositioning education in the state.
Speaking during a media briefing at his office in Calabar on Monday, June 15, 2026, Professor Odey reiterated that the Ministry of Education is primarily responsible for policy formulation, supervision, monitoring, and oversight of agencies and parastatals under its jurisdiction to ensure the delivery of quality education across the state.
Presenting a comprehensive scorecard covering the period from May 2023 to May 2026, the Commissioner stated that Governor Otu’s administration has deliberately placed education at the centre of its development agenda, resulting in significant improvements across the basic, secondary, and tertiary education subsectors.
Senator Odey noted that, one of the administration’s landmark achievements was the successful access and utilization of over ₦17 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) intervention funds between 2023 and 2025, made possible through the prompt payment of counterpart funding by the state government. He disclosed that the intervention facilitated the construction of 149 classroom blocks, rehabilitation of 50 classroom blocks, provision of 30 boreholes in schools, and procurement of 23,461 customized furniture items for pupils and students across the state.
Professor Odey noted that Cross River State remains among the few states in Nigeria that are fully up-to-date in accessing and utilizing UBEC intervention funds. The Commissioner further revealed that the Ministry of Education headquarters underwent extensive renovation and modernization, including the installation of solar power systems, CCTV surveillance facilities, modern office equipments, and the refurbishment of its power-generating systems to enhance operational efficiency.
In the area of educational resources and research, the state government remodeled the State Library Complex and transformed it into a modern digital research centre equipped with contemporary Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and academic resources.
On examination support, Professor Odey disclosed that Governor Otu has consistently funded the registration fees of indigenous students in public secondary schools for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Between 2024 and 2026, a total of 43,694 students benefited from the intervention at a cost exceeding ₦1.17 billion. He said the initiative has significantly reduced the financial burden on families while promoting increased participation in external examinations.
The Commissioner also reported notable improvements in students’ academic performance, revealing that Cross River State recorded a 72.1 percent pass rate in WAEC in 2024, compared to 68.8 percent in 2023. He further stated that the state ranked fourth nationally in the 2024 NECO examinations, achieving a 76.05 percent success rate.
Highlighting developments in tertiary education, Professor Odey described the establishment of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, as a major milestone. He explained that the institution has secured recognition and accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), successfully completed its first academic session, and admitted students for a second academic session.
He further disclosed that Governor Otu approved the recruitment of 219 academic and non-academic staff for the University of Cross River State and increased the institution’s monthly subvention from ₦220 million to ₦300 million to strengthen its operations and academic excellence.
The Commissioner also announced that the administration approved over ₦4.1 billion under the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Programme for the printing and distribution of more than 209,000 textbooks and over 23,000 teachers’ guides to improve literacy and numeracy education in public primary schools.
According to the Commissioner, the state government has equally digitized major educational processes, including online registration and result management for public examinations such as the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Placement Examinations, and Mock Examinations.
On human capital development, Professor Odey stated that the administration promoted over 14,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel across the education sector and approved the recruitment of additional teachers to address manpower shortages. He added that thousands of teachers have benefited from professional development and capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing classroom instruction and learning outcomes.
The Commissioner further highlighted the enactment of the Senior Secondary Education Board Law 2026, describing it as a strategic policy initiative that positions Cross River State to access intervention funds from the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC).
Other achievements, he said, include the constitution of education boards and governing councils, annual school census exercises, provision of safety jackets for teachers in riverine communities, approval of bursary payments to students of Cross River origin, and successful advocacy that led to the establishment of a new Federal Technical College in Akansoko, Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
Professor Odey also noted that the education sector has continued to receive national recognition through several awards won by the state in science, innovation, sports, and educational administration. He attributed the successes recorded over the last three years to Governor Otu’s unwavering commitment to educational development and his conviction that education remains the most effective pathway to sustainable growth and prosperity.
“The achievements recorded within the last three years demonstrate the Governor’s unwavering commitment to building a strong educational foundation for future generations. Education remains the bedrock of development, and Cross River is today on a steady path towards national relevance and global competitiveness,” the Commissioner stated.
Professor Odey expressed appreciation to Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu for his visionary leadership and sustained investment in the education sector, assuring stakeholders that the Ministry of Education will continue to implement policies and programmes aimed at improving educational standards and expanding opportunities for learners across the state.