{"id":7472,"date":"2026-04-08T18:48:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T17:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pillartoday.ng\/?p=7472"},"modified":"2026-04-08T18:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T17:48:51","slug":"bbnaija-star-sultana-storms-cross-river-charts-creative-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"pillartoday.com.ng\/?p=7472","title":{"rendered":"BBNaija Star, Sultana, Storms Cross River, Charts Creative Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, with BBNAIJA Star, Sultana, during the latter’s courtesy visit.<\/em><\/p>\n

By Anietie Akpan<\/strong><\/p>\n

In what could pass for a heartwarming Easter engagement, Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu Tuesday, assured of strategic collaboration with Big Brother Naija finalist, Sultana, as part of efforts to deepen the state\u2019s footprint in Nigeria\u2019s fast-growing creative economy.<\/p>\n

A release from the Government House Press Unit, said the Governor gave the assurance while receiving the reality TV star and her team during a courtesy visit at his country home in Adiabo, Odukpani Local Government Area.<\/p>\n

Welcoming his guest, Governor Otu expressed profound appreciation for the timing of the visit, describing it as both symbolic and sacrificial. \u201cYour visit during this sacred Easter season is deeply appreciated. For you to make the sacrifice of time to be with us at such a period speaks volumes, and you are most welcome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Reaffirming the state\u2019s enduring bond with its people, the Governor declared: \u201cIn Cross River State, we stand by our own wherever we find them. It is a thing of pride for us to recognize that your roots are firmly tied to this soil. We believe strongly that the next time, you will conquer it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

He further praised Sultana\u2019s journey, noting \u201cit is no small feat to rise to the heights you have attained, especially in such a fiercely contested platform. Your resilience and courage are truly commendable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Otu underscored the growing importance of the creative industry, aligning Sultana\u2019s aspirations with the state\u2019s broader development agenda.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe creative economy is the order of the day, and I am particularly delighted by your willingness to serve Cross River State in any capacity we may deem fit. I can assure you that we are going to do so,\u201d he stated, adding with a light-hearted note, \u201cGentlemen, let us not admire her too much just yet, at least not until we have agreed on what the exposure is going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Projecting his administration\u2019s vision, the Governor emphasized that Cross River is being deliberately positioned as a national leader in culture and tourism. \u201cWe are building a Cross River State that will lead Nigeria in the creative economy. We have put down a solid foundation to make our state the next destination\u2014be it in culture, heritage, or social expression,\u201d he said, stressing that \u201cthere will be many areas of collaboration as we work together to build a better tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

He further assured of institutional support for Sultana\u2019s continued rise, describing the state as a willing partner in her growth trajectory saying , \u201cNow that you have attained this level, there must be time and energy to sustain and even move forward. We will be part of that engine, that catalyst, that will continue to support you to even greater heights\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hinting at immediate next steps, Governor Otu disclosed plans for structured engagements to harness opportunities within the sector. \u201cIn not too long, we will reconvene for technical discussions. This visit coincided with Easter and limited some engagements, but we will bring the necessary stakeholders together to build proper synergy and direction,\u201d he assured.<\/p>\n

Earlier in her remarks, Sultana had expressed deep admiration for the Governor\u2019s leadership and the strides recorded within a short period.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour commitment to infrastructural development, the promotion of tourism, and the rebranding of Cross River has not gone unnoticed. The strides made under your leadership are both inspiring and commendable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Declaring her readiness to contribute, the reality TV star offered to deploy her influence in support of the state\u2019s tourism drive. \u201cIt is my earnest desire to leverage my platform to support your administration. I humbly offer myself as an ambassador for tourism in Cross River State to help amplify our beauty, culture, and unique experiences\u2014especially through Carnival Calabar,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n

She further pledged flexibility in service, adding, \u201cI am open to contributing in any capacity deemed fit by Your Excellency, whether in promoting the Carnival or serving within the creative industry to enhance the state\u2019s visibility on national and global stages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sultana conveyed her family\u2019s emotional connection to the state, expressing hope that \u201cwith the right collaboration, Cross River will continue to rise as a leading destination for tourism and cultural excellence,\u201d even as she thanked the governor for the audience and reaffirmed her commitment to the state\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, with BBNAIJA Star, Sultana, during the latter’s courtesy visit. By Anietie Akpan In what could pass for a heartwarming Easter engagement, Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu Tuesday, assured of strategic collaboration with Big Brother Naija finalist, Sultana, as part of efforts to deepen the state\u2019s footprint […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7473,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7472\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}