Senior Secondary School students in the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State are full of business optimism following the successful inauguration of the People First Entrepreneurship Club and competitions.
The initiative, a brainchild of the state government and implemented by the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA), aims to inculcate entrepreneurial mindset among students at an early age. Students selected from 30 government schools across the district participated in a special masterclass and shared innovative business concepts, indicating a strong initial interest in the programme.
Student feedback strongly supported the new program. Egbegwu Great-Favour, of Agbo Comprehensive Secondary School, Agbori, argued that the clubs should be replicated statewide to give more students valuable hands-on experience in business development.
Similarly, Efem Gift Alaga of Community Secondary School, Itigidi said, “Entrepreneurship is about creating jobs and bridging the unemployment gap.” He said the masterclass has already inspired him to be more intentional about managing his mother's local tabletop business. For Agbor Favor Lifa of Yalankum Community Secondary School, the event was an opportunity to “learn first-hand about entrepreneurship”, for which he expressed his gratitude to the state government.
Nissi Ebiang, manager of corporate affairs and client services at MEDA, led the masterclass, urging students to move beyond concepts and focus on action. He challenged participants to identify urgent needs within their communities and find viable solutions, emphasizing that this problem-solving approach is the core of entrepreneurship.
Program Coordinator Nwongo-Abasi Okon said the pilot phase is designed to shape young minds and encourage them to embrace business development. The stakes are high for this initial stage: the one hundred participating schools will face off in a competition at a later date for the chance to win prizes worth up to N1 million along with other consolation prizes.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of key educational stakeholders including the Secretaries of Education of the Central Senatorial District: Ekpe Oger (Ikom), Anyaniani Odohi (Abi), Arop John (Boki), Amba Ndifon (Etung), Mmanke Ubi (Yakure), Ekoyi Ayame (Obubara), and Caroline Okongor, Coordinating Supervisory Director (CSD).
