Ukorebi Esien | September 24, 2025
CALABAR — Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to peacebuilding and food security with the empowerment of 400 citizens, including 200 repentant agitators, who graduated from an intensive agricultural training programme at CSS Farms, Nasarawa State.
At the graduation and empowerment ceremony held in Calabar, Governor Otu disbursed the sum of ₦800 million as start-up grants, that is ₦2 million each to the beneficiaries, describing the gesture not as charity, but as "a value-laden investment in humanity."
The Governor said the empowerment initiative was deliberately structured to redirect the energy of young people, especially former members of the Bakassi Defence Force, from militancy into productive agricultural ventures.
"Today's empowerment programme is primarily targeted at redirecting the strength and energy of our youths from destructive to productive ventures. Any failure to properly harness the potentials of our youths leaves them vulnerable to antisocial vices that threaten peace and development," Otu stated.
He explained that the agricultural value chain was chosen for its cascading benefits to the state economy and its role in ensuring food sufficiency before the end of his tenure.
The Governor also highlighted previous empowerment programmes of his administration, including the disbursement of ₦2 billion to vulnerable households under the FADAMA NG-CARES programme, provision of 100 commercial boats to riverine communities, retirees' entrepreneurship grants, and a ₦1 billion partnership with Sterling Bank to support SMEs.
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Patrick Egbe, described the initiative as part of a broader policy to reduce poverty, create jobs, and strengthen entrepreneurship in Cross River. He commended Governor Otu's People First leadership for approving the empowerment package, noting that monitoring committees have been set up across the three senatorial districts to ensure judicious use of the funds.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Governor. Solomon Hussain, speaking on behalf of the ex-agitators, pledged loyalty to the state government, assuring that they would not return to militancy. Similarly, Mary Ekuri, representing women beneficiaries, said the training had equipped them with skills in food processing, packaging, and value addition, which would improve their families' livelihoods and contribute to the state's economy.
The Cross River State Government has also expanded empowerment into ICT, with the training of 100 young people in programming and web development, as well as collaborations with national and international partners including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Governor Otu concluded that the programme underscored his administration's strategic focus on peace, productivity, and food security:
"This is not about handouts. It is about investing in our people, empowering them to become relevant to themselves, their families, and to society. Our target is food sufficiency and peace in Cross River State."
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