An outspoken lawyer and consummate politician, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, who is the Special Adviser (SA) on General Duties to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, last weekend celebrated his birthday and made donations to empower some members of his community.

A report written by Kingsley Agim, and published on the website of Cross River Ministry of Information, indi­cated that the birthday celebration took place at his hometown in Akpap Okoyong, Odukpani Local Govern­ment Area (LGA) of Cross River State.

According to the report by King­sley Agim, “In a demonstration of philanthropy and community sup­port, 60 longstanding and dedicated supporters of the Governor Otu re­ceived financial assistance—30 ben­eficiaries were given N100,000 each, while another 30 received N50,000 each.”

In his address at the event, the SA on General Duties was deeply thank­ful for members of the community’s outpouring of love and support, stat­ing that the occasion was not just about the celebration of his birthday but likewise about appreciating those who have determinedly and resolute­ly continued to stand with Governor Otu, the Sweet Prince, throughout the span of his political life.

The report quoted Akiba as saying “Seeing them gathered, sharing in the joy, and receiving my modest tokens of appreciation reminded me of the pow­er of loyalty, community, and shared purpose.”

“True fulfillment comes from giv­ing, serving, and standing together for a greater cause. I will continue to uphold the values of compassion, gratitude, and impactful leadership as a true disciple of the Sweet Prince,” he added.

The event was attended by a di­verse group of esteemed individu­als, including prominent politicians, government officials and influential community leaders who commended Akiba’s philanthropic gestures, self­less service to humanity and com­mitment to the development of Cross River State.

The Chairman of Odukpani LGA, Hon. Etim Asido, as contained in the report, commended Akiba’s gesture of generosity. He noted that it aligned with the “Season of Sweetness” under Governor Otu’s administration, em­phasizing that “the revival of vibran­cy and solidarity in local communi­ties was a reflection of the governor’s leadership.”

The Special Adviser to the Gov­ernor on Women Mobilization and Development and Vice Chair of the Special Advisers’ Forum, Torita Rose­mary Odey, hailed Akiba, describing him as “a role model whose actions inspire philanthropy and community service.”

In the same vein, the Director Gen­eral (DG) of the Cross River State Elec­trification Agency (CR-SEA), Francis Ekpo, described Akiba as a “compas­sionate and selfless leader, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.”

Ekpo averred that “Akiba’s kind gesture reaffirms the belief that lead­ership enhances a person’s character rather than changes it.”

The Special Adviser to the Gover­nor on Project Monitoring and Eval­uation, Ralph Morphy Adoga, said Akiba’s selfless acts demonstrate his unwavering dedication to the well-be­ing of his community and his strong sense of social responsibility.

He added that “the event not only honors him but also inspires attend­ees to adopt similar values of giving and community engagement.”

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Linus Obo­go, a seasoned journalist, was report­ed as saying that Akiba was being cel­ebrated not only for his professional achievements but also for his humility and dedication to community service.

“True leadership involves sharing and empowering others, and Akiba has exemplified this through his fi­nancial assistance to his people,” the media professional observed.

The governor’s Chief Press Secre­tary (CPS), Nsa Gill, a veteran jour­nalist, described the SA on General Duties as “a unique and dedicated individual who embodies the govern­ment’s ‘People First’ mantra.”

The media expert noted that “the large turnout at the event reflected Akiba’s strong support within the community and his commitment to assisting the less privileged.”

On his part, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Edem Darlington, a social change agent and erstwhile Chairman of Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ), noted that Akiba’s deci­sion to put community support first demonstrates his genuine concern for the well-being of his constituents and his strong sense of public service. He stressed that “leadership should be about giving back and recognizing those who have contributed to prog­ress.”

The Chairman, Cross River State Council of Nigeria Union of Jour­nalists (NUJ), Comrade Archibong Bassey, described Akiba as a “dedi­cated and approachable leader who values his relationship with the me­dia.” Said to be the first female NUJ Chairman in Cross River, Comrade Archibong Bassey observed that Aki­ba’s support for newsmen in the state has solidified media-government re­lations.

Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Cross River State Chapter, Emmanuel Olayi, who was said to have bestowed an award on Akiba, described him as “a strong presence in the communi­ty and a positive influence on young people.”

Olayi added that Akiba’s leader­ship voyage could be traced back to his days as a student, noting that he has continued to remain a great source of inspiration to youths across the state.

Speaking on behalf of all the bene­ficiaries, Mr. Kingsley Michael Edem, expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to Barrister Akiba, for the kind gesture, which according to him, would help them to mitigate the hardship occasioned by the current economic situation in the country.

He commended Governor Otu for appointing the right persons with great leadership qualities into various positions in the state, noting that it has gone a long way in ensuring the deliv­ery of democracy dividends to the peo­ple, particularly at the grassroots level.

Barrister Akiba, a young talented legal practitioner with great intellec­tual prowess, has been a long-time aide of Governor Bassey Otu, serving as his media assistant. He has been with the governor right from when he became a parliamentarian in 2003 at the House of Representatives repre­senting Odukpani/Calabar Munici­pality Federal Constituency.

Even after Otu left the Senate where he represented Cross River South Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, Akiba remained stead­fast and consistent in his loyalty to the governor, as he continued to serve him as his media aide until in 2023 when he appointed him his Special Adviser on General Duties upon becoming the Cross River helmsman.

Akiba, a vocal voice and promi­nent figure in Otu’s administration, has played a very significant role in the pursuit of the actualization of the governor’s developmental plans and fulfilment of the People-First agenda. On his birthday which is February 17, but said to have been marked on Feb­ruary 21, various goodwill messages were issued by his admirers, individu­als and groups to celebrate and rejoice with him.

For instance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) while hailing him on the occasion of his birthday in a state­ment signed by the party’s Assistant Secretary, Hon. Achu Moses Ojang, said: “The State Chairman, Alphon­sus Ogar Eba Esq. JP and the State Executive Committee members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Cross River State congratulates a legal luminary in our political landscape, Ekpenyong Akiba Esq.

“Your role as a member of the le­gal team that defended His Excellen­cy, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu from the Election Petition Tribunal to the Supreme Court stands as a beacon of your legal prowess, devotion to justice, and efforts to safeguard the integrity of our democratic institutions.

“In your current position as Spe­cial Adviser to the Governor on Spe­cial Duties, your strategic counsel and visionary leadership have been instrumental in charting the course for progress and development in our dear state. We seize the opportunity to thank you for your innumerable con­tributions to the success of the party in the last general and local govern­ment councils elections. On this aus­picious occasion, we pray God bless you with good health, wisdom, and prosperity.”

Describing Akiba as an exception­al leader and a beacon of hope for good governance, Princess Ako Nsa Ekpenyong, Director, State Emergen­cy Management Agency (SEMA) in Cross River, remarked: “Your tireless efforts and unwavering support in building and projecting exemplary leadership in Cross River State are truly commendable.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your encouragement and strong sup­port during my father’s burial.

“As the SA General Duties, you went extra miles to ensure monies were released from the appropriate authorities to enable me to meet the necessary demands.

“As we celebrate this season of sweetness in our government, I’m re­minded of your selfless contributions to our state’s growth and development. May this special day mark the begin­ning of another year of wisdom, joy, and fulfilment. May this new year of your life bring you greater heights of success, happiness, and fulfilment. May your leadership continue to in­spire and motivate others to strive for excellence.

“As your sister and friend, I’m hon­oured to work alongside someone as dedicated and passionate about mak­ing a positive impact in Cross River State. Your influence and guidance have been invaluable to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from you.”

The National Youth Council of Ni­geria (NYCN), Odukpani Chapter, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Comrade Williams Bassey and Sec­retary Comrade Roland Akiba, said: “On behalf of the Executives and the entire youth of Odukpani, we write to felicitate with our Leader Barr. Dr. Ek­penyong Akiba the SA General Duties to the governor of Cross River State on the occasion of his birthday.

“We want to use this medium to thank you for your unparalleled leadership, you are truly one of – a kind that have inspired confidence in many of us. As we celebrate your turning point today, may the coming years crown your life with peace, good health, and God’s protection. May all your wishes come to manifestation through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Akiba has received several awards and laurels for his service to humanity and contributions to societal growth and development. In December last year, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Apostolic Church Bible College and Seminary (ACBCS) in affiliation with University of Calabar (UNICAL). The Honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred on him at the ACBCS’s 21st, 22nd and 23rd convocation ceremony, in recognition of his remarkable efforts towards hu­man capital development and contri­butions to the advancement of Cross River State and Nigeria in general.