By Our Reporter
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Calabar is set to witness a night of history, honour, and destiny as the much-anticipated Destiny Cross River Awards 2025 holds on Tuesday, October 2ND, at the Shettima Hall, State Library Complex, Calabar.
At the heart of this year’s celebration stands His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, who will be conferred with the Destiny Grand Commander Award – the highest honour of the evening. This recognition comes as a tribute to his uncommon leadership in rebuilding Cross River from the ruins of neglect and desolation into a vibrant state now walking boldly on the path of recovery, greater glory, and sustainable progress.
Observers across the nation agree that Governor Otu has redefined leadership by quietly but resolutely fixing broken foundations, restoring the dignity of governance, and rekindling hope without resorting to excuses or blame. His stewardship is widely hailed as a “miracle of rebuilding,” one that is steadily repositioning Cross River to reclaim its place of pride among the comity of states in Nigeria.
The Destiny Awards has quickly become one of the boldest platforms in Nigeria for celebrating landmark contributions to a people’s prophetic destiny. The Organisers, JBL Foundations, in Conjunction with the Destiny Cross River Covenant Project Council, describe it as “the best thing that has happened to Cross River and her destiny since the beginning of the millennium.” Beyond the glamour, the event is designed to be a prophetic covenant moment; immortalising men and women whose lives, sacrifices, and visions have shifted the trajectory of the state’s future.
Apart from Governor Otu, other eminent sons and daughters of Cross River will also be honoured for their legendary contributions. Among them are:
Chief Anthony Ani (CON), former Minister of Finance. He will be bestowed with the highest award in the Legends protocol category, for timeless and monumental sacrifices made in advancing the state’s infrastructural, economic, social, cultural and political destiny for a period spanning over 6 decades.
Prof. Kelvin Etta – Who will receive the iconic Destiny Patriarchal Defender Emeritus Award, for defending the soul of Cross River’s intellectual and educational future, permanently changing the fortunes of the State in the University of Calabar and globally through his legendary selfless interventions and for raising leaders who now carry the torch of destiny.
Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON – will be celebrated with the Destiny Patriarchal Laureate Award, for his iconic sacrifices in philanthropy, law and governance, laying down his brilliance as a covenant with justice to safeguard the dignity and destiny of Cross River, not just locally but globally, with an unflinching patriotic zeal.
Speaking ahead of the event, Hon. Mike Mbang on behalf of the organisers – The Destiny Cross River Covenant Project Council, affirmed that this year’s Awards will be “a historic gathering of trailblazers, a divine roll call of destiny-shapers, and a clarion call for Cross Riverians everywhere to rise, build, and bless the nations.”
Attendance is expected to cut across government, business, the diplomatic corps, the church, academia, and the creative industries. Friends and followers of the Governor and the distinguished honourees in particular, are being urged to grace the occasion as a show of solidarity with champions of our collective destiny who have given their all to restore the state to greatness.
The Destiny Cross River Awards 2025 promises to be more than an event; it is a covenant night, a defining moment where history, prophecy, and destiny will converge.
