The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has tasked the incoming Head of the UNHCR Ogoja Sub-Office, Mr. Alpha Oumar Barry, with building on the achievements of his predecessor and further strengthening the agency's humanitarian interventions across the State.
Odey gave this charge on Monday while receiving the outgoing Head of the UNHCR Ogoja Sub-Office, Mrs. Irene Omondi, and her successor, Mr. Alpha Oumar Barry, at Government House in Calabar. He lauded Mrs. Omondi for her dedication, humanitarian service, and outstanding contributions to refugee management and welfare during her tenure.
The Deputy Governor particularly acknowledged her efforts in supporting refugees displaced from neighbouring Cameroon, both those residing at the Ogoja Refugee Settlement and those living within host communities throughout the State.
He observed that her leadership had significantly strengthened the partnership between the Cross River State Government and UNHCR in tackling humanitarian challenges and enhancing the welfare of refugees and other vulnerable groups.
Rt. Hon. Odey also commended Mrs. Omondi for facilitating key infrastructure projects in refugee-hosting communities, including the renovation of the Adagom Primary Health Care Centre, the Ukende Primary Health Care Centre, and St. Peter's Primary School in Adagom. He noted that these facilities would greatly improve access to healthcare and education for both refugees and members of the host communities.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration to sustaining collaboration with UNHCR and other development partners, the Deputy Governor assured that the State Government would continue to back initiatives that promote social inclusion, community development, and the well-being of refugees and displaced persons.
In her remarks, Mrs. Omondi expressed gratitude to the State Government for its unwavering support to refugees and other forcibly displaced individuals in the State.
She particularly praised the government's inclusive policy, which integrates refugees into State programmes and services rather than isolating them, describing it as a testament to the State's dedication to human dignity, peaceful coexistence, and social cohesion.
She also highlighted UNHCR's economic empowerment initiatives, revealing that the agency is partnering with Sterling Bank to provide low-interest loans to refugees, thereby enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
Mrs. Omondi further expressed confidence that the strong partnership between the State Government and UNHCR would continue to thrive.
In his response, Mr. Alpha Oumar Barry thanked the Deputy Governor for the warm reception and pledged to build upon the solid foundation laid by his predecessor. He reaffirmed UNHCR's commitment to deepening collaboration with the State Government and other stakeholders to improve the living conditions of refugees at the Ogoja Refugee Settlement and those in host communities across the State.
Cross River State currently hosts 47,000 refugees and forcibly displaced persons, the majority of whom are Cameroonian refugees living in the Ogoja Refugee Settlement and surrounding host communities, including Adagom and Ukende.
A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of completion certificates for the renovated Adagom Primary Health Care Centre, Ukende Primary Health Care Centre, and St. Peter's Primary School, Adagom, by the outgoing UNHCR Head, Mrs. Irene Omondi, to the Deputy Governor.
