By Linus Obogo
There are seasons in the life of a people when destiny itself genuflects, dispersing petals of honour upon their path, and history, with a benevolent hand, inscribes their name upon the tablets of greatness. Such a season has come upon Cross River State. With rare éclat and triumph, the state has secured the hosting rights for the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference, a continental convocation of vision and enterprise, scheduled for 2026 in the ancient, enchanting city of Calabar. The torchbearer of this feat, the navigator of this renaissance, is none other than His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu.
The signing of the Hosting Agreement with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Algiers was no ordinary ritual. It was the culmination of foresight, diplomacy, credibility, and a steadfast will to change the trajectory of a people. In that solemn moment, as Governor Otu’s pen traced its indelible mark upon the agreement, he was not merely endorsing a conference, he was sealing a covenant with posterity. His declaration that this moment is “a defining one for our people and for Nigeria” echoed like a clarion call, announcing to Africa and the world that Cross River has risen anew, draped in the garment of relevance and promise.
Indeed, only leaders of vision dare such heights. In the theatre of governance, where many are content with managing decline, Otu has chosen to chart ascent. AfSNET 2026 is more than an event, it is a platform of power, a crucible where ideas and investments will be forged to shape the economic destiny of nations. That Cross River has emerged as the host city is testimony not only to its unique charm but also to the transparency, seriousness, and sterling leadership of its governor. Afreximbank did not gamble; it discerned in Governor Otu a partner of integrity, a steward of possibility, and a harbinger of a new story for his state.
And what a story it promises to be! Calabar, with its historic grace, cultural vibrancy, and unrivalled hospitality, shall once again be the stage upon which Africa gathers. From Durban to Abuja, from Cairo to Kisumu, AfSNET has traversed the continent, but now it comes to rest upon the verdant soil of Cross River. In 2026, the world will walk its boulevards, taste its cuisine, revel in its culture, and more importantly, discover its unmatched investment frontiers in agriculture, tourism, trade, and the creative economy.
But this triumph is not of chance—it is the fruit of a governor’s clarity of vision. Otu has aligned himself with the noble philosophy of Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, who insists that true development must be decentralised, cascading from cities, provinces, and states where the heartbeat of the people throbs most urgently. By championing this belief, Governor Otu has revealed himself not merely as a host, but as a thinker of consequence, a statesman who understands that transformation begins from the grassroots before ascending to reshape the continent.
In his promise to deliver a world-class summit that shall exceed expectations, Otu unveils a leadership rooted not in platitudes but in performance. He dares to dream aloud that AfSNET 2026 shall not just be a conference, but a landmark experience—a landmark that will etch Cross River permanently into Africa’s economic map. This is a vision that lifts the eyes of his people beyond the horizons of doubt into the landscapes of possibility.
The economic dividends are certain: corridors of investment will be flung wide open, infrastructure will be strengthened, jobs will multiply, and pride will be restored. Yet perhaps greater still is the symbolic victory. For a state long underestimated, AfSNET 2026 is the trumpet that announces: Cross River is back, resplendent, relevant, and radiant.
And so, Calabar awaits, with her streets ready to dance, her people eager to welcome, and her horizons stretched wide to embrace the future. The city shall host not only the dignitaries of Africa and the world but also the hopes of millions who will see in this convergence the dawn of new possibilities. In Otu’s invitation to “leaders, investors, and innovators” to come to Calabar, there is a melody of inclusion, a warmth of sincerity, and a promise of unmatched cultural embrace.
This, then, is the poetry of leadership: when one man’s vision becomes the destiny of millions; when a governor’s pen opens gates of opportunity; when a leader places his people not at the periphery but at the centre of continental discourse. By securing the host rights of AfSNET 2026, Governor Bassey Edet Otu has not only rewritten the Cross River story—he has set it to music, a triumphant symphony of hope, pride, and renaissance.
In years to come, when the chronicles of this state are retold, this chapter will shine with a radiance undimmed: the chapter where Cross River rose from the quiet banks of the Calabar River to the grand stage of Africa, carried aloft by the vision, transparency, and exemplary leadership of its Governor. Truly, this is the dawn of a golden era, and Otu stands as its herald.
Obogo is Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Bassey Edet Otu