The Cross River State Political Directors Forum has honoured the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the ongoing agricultural revolution in the state.
The certificate of investiture was presented on Saturday at the commissioner’s residence in Calabar, during a ceremony attended by executive members of the Forum and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the body, the Chairman of the Forum, Prince Jude Agaji, said the honour was in recognition of Ebokpo’s trailblazing leadership, particularly his relentless drive for tree crops mechanisation covering cocoa, coffee and oil palm, as well as the distribution of 77 motorcycles to agricultural extension workers across the state to strengthen grassroots agricultural service delivery.
Agaji described the commissioner as a key member of the intellectual think-tank that helped shape the vision and success of the administration of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, noting that his strategic input during the formative stages of the government contributed significantly to its policy coherence and effectiveness.
According to him, Governor Otu’s decision to entrust the critical agriculture sector to Ebokpo has yielded unprecedented results, with visible impact across multiple agricultural value chains. He said the commissioner’s signature initiatives have repositioned agriculture from subsistence practice to a structured, mechanised and inclusive system that touches cocoa, coffee, oil palm and other agricultural products.
Agaji further noted that Ebokpo has successfully confronted longstanding challenges in the sector, earning the confidence of farmers, stakeholders and policymakers, while placing agriculture at the centre of Cross River State’s economic diversification drive.
In his response, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo expressed surprise and deep appreciation for the honour, describing it as a rare recognition that reflects close attention to the work being done by the ministry.
“I am humbled and grateful to God. This award shows that people are paying attention and understudying the specifics of what we are doing,” he said.
The commissioner attributed the progress recorded in the sector to the leadership of Governor Otu, whom he said has fostered teamwork, discipline and shared responsibility across political and bureaucratic structures of government.
He explained that the state’s agricultural reforms are benchmarked against successful models in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with emphasis on building strong fundamentals capable of sustaining long-term productivity, industrial growth and job creation.
Ebokpo revealed that the ministry has procured and begun phased distribution of mini-medium tractors suited to local farming realities, supported by a tracking system to ensure transparency and prevent politicisation. He said the initiative is designed to scale up production, attract processing industries and deepen youth participation in the agricultural value chain.
He added that the administration’s broader vision is to build a resilient agricultural economy that will, over time, reduce dependence on government, retain skilled citizens within the state and create wealth across generations.
The commissioner also underscored the strategic role of political and bureaucratic directors in driving governance systems, describing them as the backbone of effective policy implementation.
The ceremony was attended by executive committee members of the Forum, including Engr. Obono Onen (Vice Chairman), Comrade Ita Ekeng (PRO), Elder Chief Obono Ibiam (Publicity Secretary), Mrs. Josephine Akayel (Welfare Secretary), and Eastern Ekpeyoung (Financial Secretary).
By Our Reporter
