Cross River State has officially commenced the registration drive for the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP) and unveiled the Cross River State Youth Entrepreneurship, Employability and Productivity (CRS-YEEP) Hub, in a move positioned to deepen youth inclusion in economic activities and expand access to structured empowerment opportunities.
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Nigeria Startup News reports that the rollout was announced in Calabar during an awareness and advocacy campaign for YEIDEP batch B, where the state government outlined its alignment with federal youth development initiatives while strengthening its local delivery framework through CRS-YEEP. Representing the Governor, Peter Odey said the twin initiatives reflect a deliberate strategy to scale interventions that directly target youth unemployment, underemployment and economic vulnerability.
Describing YEIDEP as “a timely intervention designed to expand economic opportunities for young people and strengthen their participation in nation-building,” Odey noted that the programme introduces a structured pathway for engagement through skills development, entrepreneurship support and access to productive ventures. He added that the launch of the registration exercise signals a critical entry point for young people across the state to connect with opportunities designed to improve livelihoods and economic stability.
According to him, the simultaneous commissioning of the CRS-YEEP Hub represents an institutional framework to support the delivery of such interventions at scale. “The flag-off of YEIDEP registration and the commissioning of the CRS-YEEP Hub mark a significant step toward expanding access to empowerment programmes and connecting more youths to productive ventures,” he said, adding that the approach is consistent with the administration’s “People First” policy direction.
Odey further urged young people across Cross River State to take advantage of the registration process, stressing that participation in YEIDEP provides a pathway to personal growth, economic inclusion and meaningful contribution to society. He noted that beyond registration, the programme is structured to ensure continuity through training, mentorship and enterprise support mechanisms.
Also speaking at the event, Abdullahi Mohammed, who represented the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said YEIDEP is designed as a federal government-backed intervention aimed at restoring confidence among young Nigerians while creating clear pathways for economic advancement.
“YEIDEP is focused on providing structured support and opportunities that enable young people to transition into productive economic roles,” he said, noting that the programme is part of broader efforts to address systemic gaps between education, skills acquisition and labour market participation.
He commended Cross River State for establishing the CRS-YEEP Hub, describing it as “a strategic platform for skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.” According to him, such infrastructure is critical to ensuring that national programmes are effectively localised and accessible to beneficiaries at the state level.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition in Cross River State, Barr. Odum-Ijom Ukam, described the event as “a landmark convergence of policy, purpose and opportunity,” noting that the integration of YEIDEP with the CRS-YEEP framework reflects a coordinated approach to youth development.
He explained that while YEIDEP provides a federally driven intervention model, CRS-YEEP serves as the state’s operational platform for delivering practical outcomes in entrepreneurship, employability and productivity. “The commissioning of the CRS-YEEP Youth Hub signals our commitment to reposition young people as active drivers of economic growth and social transformation,” Ukam said.
He added that the hub is designed to function as an ecosystem for innovation, skills development and enterprise incubation, enabling a new generation of job creators while positioning Cross River as a viable destination for youth-led economic activity and sustainable development.
Providing further insight into the programme, the Coordinator-General of YEIDEP, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, said the initiative is structured to tackle youth unemployment and reduce social vulnerability through targeted interventions. He noted that the programme combines empowerment schemes with economic inclusion strategies aimed at delivering measurable outcomes.
The event also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Hon. Patrick Egbede, as well as participating financial institutions and development partners, underscoring the collaborative framework required to drive large-scale youth empowerment initiatives.
Nigeria Startup News reports that the official declaration of the YEIDEP registration drive open marked the operational commencement of the programme in the state, while a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ministry of Youth Development and Skills Acquisition formalised the launch of the CRS-YEEP Hub, setting the stage for coordinated implementation of youth-focused economic interventions across Cross River State.
