By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and conducive environment for diaspora investors willing to invest in the state.
Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, Prince Okor gave the assurance during a media parley with members of the Global United Christian Congress of Africa and Diaspora (GUCCAD) in Calabar yesterday.
He emphasized that the state remains one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and investor-friendly destinations.
“Cross River State is welcoming and will protect investors as stipulated in the law,” he stated. “We encourage those in the diaspora to feel free to invest and be rest assured that their investments will prosper here.”
Prince Okor noted that Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration is focused on building trust and ensuring that investors’ interests are protected under the law, adding that the state’s peaceful atmosphere and rich potential make it an attractive destination for investment.
Speaking on behalf of GUCCAD, the organisation’s President, Professor Ijoma Nwosu, applauded the Cross River State Government for its warm reception of delegates from 18 countries who attended the event.
He said the organisation would continue to build stronger connections between Africa and its diaspora community.
“We appreciate His Excellency for the warm welcome,” Prof. Nwosu said. “In the coming years, we hope to bring home even more of our brothers and sisters from abroad.”
Reverend Nneka Amarachukwu Nwosu, GUCCAD’s Public Relations Officer, explained that the organisation’s mission is to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their roots and inspire them to invest back home. She stressed the importance of having clear policies that protect such investments.
“We are moved by the need for Africans in the diaspora to come home and invest in their roots,” she stated. “But if they must return to invest, there must be policies that protect their investments. Most of us work extremely hard to earn what we have.”
She further urged Nigerian leaders to promote integrity and ethical leadership, noting that these values are crucial in fostering investor confidence.
“For Nigeria and Africa to move forward, integrity must guide our actions,” she added. “When there is integrity, those in the diaspora will invest confidently, knowing their efforts are secure.”
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Chapter, Mrs. Archibong Bassey, welcomed GUCCAD members to the state and commended Governor Otu for his unwavering hospitality.
“Cross River is a peaceful state with warm and loving people,” she said. “We appreciate the Governor for the warm reception given to our guests and for creating an environment where visitors feel at home.”
The event, which brought together government officials, diaspora leaders, and media practitioners, underscored the shared vision of reconnecting Africans abroad with the continent’s economic and cultural opportunities.
