Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has called for a paradigm shift in the state’s economic landscape, urging citizens to embrace entrepreneurship and reduce dependency on civil service. He made this call during the graduation ceremony of 1,500 participants from the Enterprise Development Center (EDC) and the Retiree Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI), programs organized by the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) through the Cross River State Enterprise Development Center (CRSEDC).
Represented by the State Secretary General, Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh, Governor Otu articulated the government’s mission to transform the state’s economy from one heavily reliant on civil service to a vibrant hub of thriving businesses.
“Today’s occasion is a fulfillment of a dream to transform the state from one that is overly dependent on government for livelihood – what is often called a civil servant state – to one where every man and woman, young and old, will think outside the box, leveraging their knowledge, exposure, and networks to build a bubbling, business-driven economy,” he stated.
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He further announced that a one billion Naira facility is being prepared by the state government for disbursement through the bank to support small business owners who have completed the EDC program.
“Retirement is no longer about sitting and waiting for death,” he added while acknowledging the efforts of the retirees. “After retirement comes life, hope, and the self-belief that what you couldn’t do while in active service, you can achieve after retirement.”
The Retiree Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) aligns with government efforts to tackle post-retirement poverty, including the recent signing of the Senior Citizen Bill into law. Cross River State has also become the first state in the country to send structural design specifications for approval to the relevant national agency, demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of its senior citizens.
The state’s dedication to this entrepreneurial shift is further underscored by the establishment of the University of Entrepreneurship, aiming to transform graduates from job seekers into employers of labor.
The graduation ceremony saw the attendance of several top government functionaries, including Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the Vice President); Dr. Abigail Duke, Commissioner for Commerce (represented by Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Glory Odu Orji); Paddy Egede, Commissioner for Wealth Creation; Dr. Glory Effiong, Accountant General; and Dr. Bong Duke, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission. Other notable attendees included Essesien Edem, Chairman of the MEDA Board; Great Ogban, Director-General of MEDA; Kijuo Julius, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development; and Lawrence Ekpezu, EDC Center Manager.
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