The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is exploring a strategic partnership with the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) to advance youth development, skills acquisition and economic empowerment across the state.
The proposed collaboration was discussed during a visit by a UNICEF delegation led by Emmanuel Bamidele, Skills and Livelihood Officer, to MEDA, where both parties explored opportunities to strengthen youth-focused livelihood initiatives.
UNICEF Seeks Collaboration on Passport to Earning Programme
Speaking during the visit, Bamidele explained that the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration with relevant ministries, departments and agencies in Cross River State to improve youth development outcomes.
He highlighted the connection between livelihood development, skills acquisition, financial empowerment and the creation of sustainable opportunities for young people.
Bamidele also noted that UNICEF adopts an inclusive approach to youth development, focusing on the needs of young people without limiting its interventions to either males or females.
As part of the proposed collaboration, he expressed UNICEF’s interest in working with MEDA to implement the Passport to Earning (P2E) programme, an initiative designed to equip young people with market-relevant skills that can improve their employability, support entrepreneurship and enable them to earn sustainable incomes.
The programme is expected to provide an opportunity to strengthen youth capacity and expand access to skills that respond to changing labour market needs.
MEDA Highlights ₦500 Million Support for Businesses
In his response, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of MEDA, Great Ogban, outlined the agency’s activities and achievements in supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Cross River State.
Ogban disclosed that MEDA had disbursed more than ₦500 million to support and strengthen small and medium-scale businesses across the state.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting enterprise development, improving access to business support and creating opportunities for economic growth.
According to him, MEDA’s interventions align with the Cross River State Government’s broader development objectives under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration.
Ogban also referenced the reported recognition of Governor Otu by the Presidency as the Most MSME-Friendly Governor, describing it as an acknowledgement of efforts to support enterprise development.
MEDA Assures UNICEF of Partnership Support
Ogban expressed MEDA’s readiness to collaborate with UNICEF on the Passport to Earning programme, stating that the agency was prepared to support its implementation across Cross River State.
The proposed partnership could strengthen efforts to equip young people with practical skills, improve livelihood opportunities and promote greater participation in economic activities.
If successfully implemented, the collaboration would bring together UNICEF’s youth development expertise and MEDA’s enterprise development mandate to support young people seeking pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
Further details on the programme’s implementation, target beneficiaries and rollout timeline were not provided in the information made available.
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