The Cross River State Government has unveiled a vocational and entrepreneurship training initiative aimed at equipping young people with practical skills and promoting self-reliance across the state.
The programme, known as the Vocational Skills Entrepreneurship Programme, was introduced by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Content as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and empower youths with sustainable means of livelihood.
State officials said the first phase of the programme is scheduled to commence on May 25 and run until July 1, 2026, with training sessions to be held at designated advanced training centres across the state.
According to the government, participants will undergo intensive practical training in specialised vocational fields, alongside entrepreneurship and business management lessons designed to improve employability and encourage innovation.
Speaking to journalist in Calabar, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Content, Awatt Caleb, said the initiative was approved by Governor Bassey Edet Otu to provide economic opportunities for youths in the state.
He said the programme would also create pathways for successful trainees to access intervention funds from both state and federal government agencies.
“The governor approved this initiative because he believes the youths deserve opportunities that will help them become productive and financially independent,” Awatt said.
He urged interested youths to take advantage of the programme, noting that the training would equip participants with the knowledge and capacity needed to compete effectively in today’s economy.
The state government added that the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the Otu administration to strengthen local content development and reduce the rate of youth unemployment in Cross River State.
