The Cross River State Government has disbursed ₦800 million in grants to 400 citizens, including farmers and former members of the defunct Bakassi Defence Force to drive youth reintegration, entrepreneurship, and agricultural growth.

Each beneficiary received ₦2 million as seed capital after completing intensive training on Innovative and Integrated Agricultural Value Chains at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State.

Governor Bassey Otu, speaking during the presentation in Calabar on Tuesday, said the initiative reflects his administration’s People First agenda aimed at wealth creation, food sufficiency, and employment generation.

“This empowerment program is not about showcasing state resources but a strategic investment in human capital,” Otu said. 

“We are redirecting the energy of our youth from destructive activities to productive ventures. Agriculture is central because it drives food security and economic growth.”

He assured the former militants that they were fully reintegrated as contributors to the state’s progress, stressing that beneficiaries who prove accountability and success will qualify for further financial support.

The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Patrick Egbede, described the initiative as a milestone in promoting economic development. 

He added that monitoring committees have been set up across senatorial districts to ensure proper use of funds.

Beneficiaries, including Mrs Mary Ekuri and Solomon Essien, expressed gratitude to the state government and pledged to use the grants responsibly for self-reliance and wealth creation.

This empowerment scheme comes just months after the state government flagged off the cultivation of 30 million coffee seedlings across 18 local government areas, reinforcing its agricultural revival strategy and positioning Cross River as a future hub for Nigeria’s coffee industry.

Source: Punch News

Image: Cross River Live