Ikang, Bakassi—Navy Commander Patrick Bassey Odiong (Rtd), the Cross River State Security Adviser (South), led the grand finale of the three-day Back to School intervention on Thursday, offering scholarships, school supplies, and heartfelt encouragement to primary school pupils in his native community.
Organized by Her Excellency, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, the initiative targets education, child welfare, and youth empowerment across Bakassi. Day One (29 July) kicked off at Ikang Government Primary School, Ikang and Day Two (30 July) featured motivational talks at Government Primary School, Ekpri Ikang—covered earlier by NegroidHaven as momentum-building steps in the campaign.
As the host and key sponsor, Odiong reflected on the roots of his motivation: “I grew up in this community… I went to school there… When I saw the pupils—no uniforms, no textbooks, no motivation—it almost broke my heart. That’s why I decided, with what little I have, to give back.”
He personally facilitated scholarships, branded exercise books, school uniforms, sandals, rechargeable reading lights, and textbooks for over 30 pupils. The educational materials prominently featured portraits of the governor and his wife, with whose permission Odiong conducted the programme.
“The aim of this event is to give back to society… my mother—the governor’s wife—graciously permitted me to run this event under her pet project,” he said during Thursday’s address.
Key dignitaries including the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Effiong Etim Okon, representatives from the Cross River House of Assembly, and Rt. Hon. Grace Bassey, Leader of the Legislative Council attended despite poor road conditions. Odiong noted:
“Even the local government chairman arrived despite the challenges, the event was colourful, well‑attended, and full of hope.”
In earlier coverage, Odiong also delivered a message to students in Day Two, urging them to embrace education as a source of pride: “If you seek education and get education, you will be the pride of your father, the pride of your mother… and the pride of Bakassi.”
The programme continues to ripple across Bakassi; Odiong pledged to extend the intervention to other communities, such as his alma mater, and to sustain the support beyond one event.
Nsa Ekeng, who was involved in the organisation of the 3 days event, noted that this latest event reinforces a consistent message of local reinvestment and grassroots upliftment. By focusing on early education and moral guidance, particularly through talks on peer pressure and drug avoidance, the programme goes beyond handouts to shape social norms.
Tolled together, Rt. Hon. Bassey the leader of Bakassi legislature said that the three days of the “Back to School” campaign demonstrate the synergy between the Governor’s wife’s educational philanthropy and Odiong’s personal commitment to community transformation, a model that she observed could revive schooling morale in Bakassi and similar remote areas.
