The Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) has successfully expanded its reach, completing the inauguration of schools in the Northern Senatorial District into the People First Entrepreneurship Clubs and Competition. This latest milestone brings the total number of participating schools to seventy across the state.
Abadem Joseph, Education Secretary for Obanliku, hailed the initiative as “a step in the right direction,” particularly after observing the students’ dynamic brainstorming sessions. He urged participants to use the entrepreneurship clubs to unleash their “creative ingenuity” and transform it into viable business ventures.
The subsequent entrepreneurship masterclass saw students showcasing remarkable optimism and a diverse array of business ideas, spanning from technology and fashion to beauty and agriculture. Program Coordinator Enwongo-Abasi Okon praised the concepts as “forward-thinking and futuristic.” She announced the competition prize money: a ₦1 Million top prize, ₦750,000 for second place, and ₦500,000 for third, in addition to other consolation prizes, as 30 schools from the Northern Senatorial District will be participating in the pilot edition.
The event wasn’t without its surprises: Muhammadu Mubarak, a student from Government Secondary School, Igoli, captivated the audience by expressing his aspiration to become a bank manager, offering a unique contrast to the business ventures presented.
The event was well-attended by key educational stakeholders, including the Education Secretaries from all five local government areas in the Northern Senatorial District: Izabi Simon (Obudu), Ernest Otung (Ogoga), Inaku Clement (Bekwarra), and Omashi Linus Eneji (representing Yala Local Education Authority).
