The Gospel Truth

NIPSS SEC 48 Delegation Commends Cross River’s MSME Strides Cross River State’s growing enterprise ecosystem has earned recognition from Study Group Six of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Senior Executive Course 48, 2026. The 17-member delegation, led by Prof. S.Y.B. Kura, visited the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) as part of their strategic study tour of the state. During the visit, CRSMEDA DG/CEO, Mr. Great Ogban, showcased the agency’s efforts in supporting MSMEs, empowering entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. The delegation also toured the agency’s facilities, exploring Cross River’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, investment opportunities and tourism potential. The visit ended on a high note with NIPSS presenting CRSMEDA with an award of recognition for its contributions to enterprise development. Cross River’s enterprise story is gaining attention—and the work continues. #CRSM...

 Governments should not be judged only by what they start, but by what they are able to sustain, consolidate and turn into lasting institutions. That is why the debate over Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s second-term bid should go beyond politics. It should be about continuity and whether the foundations being laid across Cross River can be strengthened enough to deliver lasting benefits. The Cross River State Lottery and Gaming Agency is one example. As its pioneer Director-General, I witnessed its transition from an idea into a regulatory institution, supported by the Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law, 2025. Its significance goes beyond gaming. It represents an effort to regulate an emerging industry, protect consumers, create jobs and develop legitimate revenue opportunities for the state. The next task is consolidation-modernising its systems, improving compliance and positioning it to become a stronger contributor to Cross River’s revenue architecture by 2031. But ...

 It has become increasingly difficult for me to post anything these days. I have so much strategy to share about my work, so many ideas waiting to be expressed, yet my mind keeps returning to the same painful reality. I cannot stop thinking about the children kidnapped in Oyo State, and the countless victims of insecurity across Nigeria. Fathers. Mothers. Children. Families robbed of peace, dignity, and, in some cases, life itself. Something is deeply wrong. For years, through different administrations, we have watched insecurity evolve rather than disappear. From one government to another, the promises have changed, but many of the challenges remain. Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping—these threats continue to adapt, spread, and entrench themselves in our national life. At times, it feels as though the roots of these problems run deeper than we are willing to admit. Despite enormous financial resources, military operations, international partnerships, and intelligence sup...