Cross River State Government has empowered 400 of its citizens, including farmers and former members of the defunct Bakassi Defence Force, with grants worth N800 million to support reintegration and entrepreneurial growth in agriculture and other ventures.
The beneficiaries, who had recently completed intensive training on Innovative and Integrated Agricultural Value Chain at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State, each received N2 million as seed capital to establish and expand their businesses.
On September 23, Nigeriastartupact reported the full list of 400 Cross River beneficiaries under Gov Otu’s N800m grant.
The empowerment initiative, valued at N800 million, is part of the state’s broader People First agenda, which is targeted at wealth creation, employment generation, and the promotion of food sufficiency before the end of the current administration.
Governor Bassey Otu, speaking at the event in Calabar on Tuesday, said the program was designed to redirect the strength of young people away from destructive activities and channel it into productive ventures.
“Today’s empowerment program is primarily targeted at redirecting the strength and energy of our youths from destructive to productive ventures. The youth as a critical demographic set is the pulse of the society, as they are as versatile as they are volatile,” Otu stated.
The Governor explained that the initiative was not a showcase of abundant state resources but a deliberate human capital investment aimed at transforming societal liabilities into development assets.
He emphasized that agriculture was carefully selected as the focus sector, given its importance to food security and its cascading benefits to economic development.
“We are poised to remove the character of our young ones and transform them from being societal liabilities to veritable development assets. The seed capital we are giving out today is to test your dexterity and commitment. Once we see what you have done with this, we are ready to add another,” Otu assured.
The Governor further told the former agitators that they were not stigmatized but welcomed as contributors to the state’s development. He stressed that empowerment had always been his guiding principle, even during his time in the National Assembly.
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Patrick Egbede, described the event as a milestone in the state’s drive to promote economic development and generate jobs.
“It is my great pleasure to celebrate the graduation of 400 Cross River State citizens—200 farmers and another 200 repentant agitators—from the intensive training at CSS Farms. The skills and knowledge acquired will enable them to make meaningful impact in their communities and contribute to state economic growth,” Egbede said.
He noted that the Otu-led administration had also trained 100 youths in ICT, particularly in web development and programming, showing its broader commitment to youth empowerment beyond agriculture.
Egbede added that monitoring committees had been set up across the three senatorial districts to ensure accountability and effective use of the grants. He explained that beneficiaries who demonstrate commitment and success in managing their seed capital will have access to additional funding support from the state government.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the state government for the opportunity. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Mary Ekuri and Solomon Essien thanked Governor Otu and pledged to make the best use of the empowerment for self development and wealth creation.
At the ceremony in Calabar, Governor Otu also described the initiative as a strategic step to position Cross River State as Nigeria’s coffee capital and an emerging player in the global coffee market.
“The project aligns with the administration’s People First agenda and is aimed at empowering farmers, creating jobs, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and boosting agro-industrial development,” he explained.
He added that with 30 million robust and climate-appropriate seedlings being distributed across the 18 Local Government Areas, the project will go beyond cultivation to drive job creation, wealth generation, ecological restoration, and the building of an inclusive economy.
The Governor said the seed capital support, agricultural expansion, and training programs are all targeted at creating sustainable wealth, promoting food sufficiency, and opening up more opportunities for youth empowerment and entrepreneurship in Cross River State.