The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, on Thursday (September 4, 2025), received members of the Cross River Education Marshal on a courtesy visit in Calabar. The delegation, led by the initiator of the group, Ambassador Awatt Caleb E, explained that the visit was to formally introduce the organization and brief the commissioner on their forthcoming inauguration.
The Cross River Education Marshal, a Non-Governmental Organization, is dedicated to combating truancy, curbing criminality among school-age children, and promoting compulsory school enrollment. The initiative is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Welcoming the team, Professor Odey commended the organization for complementing government efforts in the education sector. He emphasized that Governor Bassey Otu has demonstrated strong passion for education, citing the state government’s sponsorship of Cross River indigenous students for WAEC as a notable intervention. The commissioner assured the group of the ministry’s readiness to partner with them, stressing that the overarching goal is to ensure no child is found roaming the streets during school hours. He, however, urged them to remain law-abiding and professional in the discharge of their duties.