Odey Canvasses Innovation-Driven Welfare Policies At Unical Confab

NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar 

The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Sen. Prof. Stephen Odey, Esq., has called for innovation-driven approaches to social welfare policy administration to meet present-day realities.

Odey made the call on Wednesday at the 3rd Hybrid International Conference organized by the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar, with the theme "Social Welfare Policy Administration in the Era of Artificial Intelligence."

Speaking at the confab, the Commissioner stated that the evolving social landscape requires fresh thinking and creative solutions, urging participants to embrace Artificial Intelligence and other emerging innovations in policy formulation and implementation.

He hailed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, and the University Management for organizing what he described as "a timely platform for intellectual engagement, knowledge sharing, and the advancement of innovative solutions to contemporary social welfare challenges."

He further charged participants to "contribute their best, share innovative ideas, and work collaboratively" to ensure the development of sustainable and innovation-driven welfare policies, while calling on stakeholders to sustain support for the conference to ensure "its sustained growth and impact."

The event was rounded off with presentation of an "Award of Excellence" to Sen. Odey by the Department of Social Work in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements and invaluable contributions to the department and the education sector.