..Rate project as one of the best undertaken by Gov Otu’s administration
By Kelvin Obambon
Unlike any other site visited on Monday 26 May, 2025, during a media tour of completed and ongoing projects undertaken by Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration, the Cross River State Library Complex was the cynosure that got plaudits from everyone in the team because of its excessive, lavish and overly elaborate beauty.
Although the external appearance is somewhat usual than the interior that looks more like one of those state-of-the-art libraries in Europe or America, the remodeled Cross River State Library indeed exists in a world of its own. Journalists that took part in the tour rated the Library as one of the best projects masterfully executed and delivered by the administration.
Unable to hide his excitement, Christian Njoku of the News Agency of Nigeria exclaimed: “Among all the projects we’ve inspected, this is the best! This is a world class state-of-the-art library. But I’m afraid, will they be able to maintain it?”
For Trinity Jesam, publisher of Detailing News, “Cross River State Library is no longer just a building, it is a hub of enlightenment and the Governor, indeed, got it right. Thank you Governor Bassey Otu!”
Lending his voice, Joseph Abasi-Abasi of the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper while taking selfies inside the neatly arranged Library, exclaimed “this is beautiful! I must take pictures here.”
Richard Ndoma of the Leadership Newspaper was so impressed with the work done in the library that he took the joy over to Facebook, posting pictures of himself and a colleague: “With ace broadcaster, and permanent secretary in the Cross River state Ministry of Information Offiong Ani, at the state library during the media tour of projects by present administration. The library is Classy.”
Efio-Ita Nyok, publisher of Negroidhaven, an online news platform, was however not left out. Nyok launched a post about the library on his Facebook handle, and captioned it:
“STATE LIBRARY ASSUMES ICONIC LOOK
“What 2 professors couldn’t do in almost 10 years, in less than 2 years, someone whose education was contested, has done.
“John C. Maxwell the renowned leadership expert says leadership is influence not necessarily authority. Authority failed us in 8 years but, leadership succeeded.
“My fear is whether we will maintain it or with time loot it.”
Meanwhile, addressing journalists during the tour, the Chief Librarian, Eme Awatt, described the Cross River State Library as a public library that is open to everyone irrespective of social and economic standing.
She said that the state government has remodeled the Library to a world-class facility. “You have take a walk inside. You have seen for yourself. Seeing is believing. The government has done fantastic work here. When you enter inside you won’t believe you are in Nigeria, not to talk of Cross River State.”
However, it is important to note that the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations headed by Hon. Oden Ewa oversaw the entire renovation and remodeling work at the Cross River State Library. This could pass as one of the achievements of that ministry.
While the amount spent on the renovation of the library could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, the general consensus is that the quality of work done at the library is worth the bill.
