Gov Otu Approves N1.5bn Youth Empowerment Scheme

Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu has approved the release of ₦1.499 billion for the implementation of the Cross River Youth Skill Acquisition and Start-up Empowerment Programme, a landmark initiative aimed at equipping 2,620 young people across the state with vocational, technical and digital skills as well as business start-up equipment.

The approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting as part of the administration’s commitment to accelerating youth employment, enterprise development and inclusive economic growth.
Speaking shortly after the Exco approval, Governor Otu described the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of Cross River, stressing that the programme goes beyond skills training to creating a new generation of entrepreneurs and wealth creators. “This administration is determined to build a self-reliant and industrious youth population. We are not merely training our young people; we are empowering them with the tools and resources they need to become employers of labour and active contributors to the state’s economy,” the Governor said.

According to the Otu, the beneficiaries will receive practical training in market-driven vocational and digital skills before being provided with start-up kits to ensure they can immediately establish viable businesses. “Our vision is to eliminate the gap between training and opportunity. Every beneficiary will leave this programme not just with knowledge but with the equipment required to translate that knowledge into sustainable income and prosperity,” he stated.

The governor noted that the programme’s procurement package reflects the administration’s deliberate focus on supporting diverse sectors of the economy. He explained that the approved items include industrial sewing machines, laptops, cassava processing equipment, motorcycles, solar-powered freezers, washing machines, hand tillers, grain threshers, cake mixers, plantain slicers, solar-powered clippers, manual water pumps and other specialised equipment that will enable beneficiaries to establish thriving businesses across agriculture, ICT, fashion, food processing and allied enterprises.

“This intervention is not a procurement exercise; it is a deliberate economic transformation programme,” the Governor emphasized. “By placing productive assets directly in the hands of our young people, we are creating thousands of new opportunities for enterprise, innovation and community development. This is how sustainable prosperity is built.”

Otu further said the initiative is expected to significantly reduce youth unemployment, restiveness and social vulnerability while strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as critical drivers of economic expansion. “Our administration remains convinced that empowering our youths is the surest pathway to lasting peace, security and shared prosperity. Every empowered young entrepreneur becomes a catalyst for economic growth and a beacon of hope within his or her community,” he remarked.

He reaffirmed that youth development remains a central pillar of his administration’s People First agenda, adding that the government will continue to invest in programmes that expand opportunities for employment, innovation and wealth creation. “Cross River’s greatest resource is not beneath the ground but in the talent, creativity and resilience of its people. We will continue to provide the enabling environment for our youths to unlock their full potential and compete successfully in today’s economy,” he said.

The ₦1,499,400,000 programme, which will directly benefit 2,620 Cross River youths, is expected to stimulate private sector participation, deepen entrepreneurship, expand the state’s MSME ecosystem and accelerate sustainable wealth creation across critical sectors. The approval underscores Governor Otu’s determination to build an economically vibrant state where young people are equipped with the skills, tools and opportunities needed to drive inclusive development and long-term prosperity.