March 16, 2026
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Dr. Bassey Edet Otu, on Monday, flagged off the distribution of Literacy and Numeracy textbooks alongside Teachers’ Guide for public primary schools for the 2025/2026 academic session under the Project HOPE GOV./World Bank Project. The official flag-off ceremony took place at the PCN Primary School Akim Qua Town Calabar Municipal, where the Commissioner for Education, Sen. Professor Stephen Odey, Esq., represented His Excellency the State Governor to launch the initiative in the presence of the Ministry of Education management staff and key education stakeholders.
Speaking during the event, Professor Odey disclosed that the State Government has provided textbooks across the state, describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening the education sector.
The Commissioner further explained that the programme aligns with the administration’s “People First” mantra, which focuses on ensuring that every child in Cross River State has access to quality and adequate education.
“The Cross River State Government is committed to providing essential infrastructural facilities and instructional materials, including textbooks and other learning resources, to improve teaching and learning in our schools, the commissioner stated.
Professor Odey also noted that the distribution of the literacy and numeracy materials supported by the Trace and Track digital platform under the Project HOPE GOV. initiative, forms part of the government’s broader education reform aimed at enhancing learning outcomes across the state, as he explained that the event marks another milestone in the Governor’s achievements in the education sector and reflects the administration’s dedication to improving learning standards.
Commissioner Odey commended the Governor, Senator Dr. Bassey Edet Otu for making the initiative possible through Project HOPE GOV. and the World Bank-supported programme, emphasizing that the distribution of the textbooks and teachers’ guide materials would significantly improve teaching effectiveness in public primary schools. He also expressed appreciation to the Governor for his unwavering commitment to raising education standards and ensuring that pupils across the State have access to the resources needed for effective learning.