CALABAR– The Cross River State government, under the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development has flagged off the 2024 capacity development and empowerment for cooperatives across the 196 wards of the state.
The capacity development training, which is in collaboration with Interweave Solutions International, an international nonprofit organization that specializes in self-reliance, is in fulfillment of the Governor’s campaign promises which is to put the welfare of the citizens in the front burner.
The Commissioner of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development, Hon. Kingsley Namgbe Egumi, while flagging off the training at the Calabar Municipality Local Government charged participants to show commitment and dedication by using the ample opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary skills that would help them promote their businesses to enhance more profit and sustainability.
“His Excellency Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu during his campaign promised that his government would be the People First, in fulfilment of that campaign promise, the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development under my watch is in collaboration/partnership with Interweave Solutions International carrying out this training exercise across the 196 Wards of the State to empower the over 196 Cooperatives in the State.
“The essence of this training is to empower the participants by giving them the needed skills in financial management, and business plan writing amongst other benefits to ensure their businesses remain self-reliant and profitable.
“We’ve started with Calabar Municipality LGA today, His Excellency has instructed me to on behalf of the State Government flag off this exercise. The over 14 cooperatives in Calabar Municipality are all here and by the end of this training, our target is to get over 30,000 cross riverians out of poverty, this is the desire of His Excellency and all hands are on deck to achieve this”, he said
He however assured the participants that at the end of the exercise, they’ll be issued valid certificates which have already been paid for by the State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
In his goodwill message, the Country Director of Interweave Solutions International, Exodus Esuku Ibor thanked the State Government through the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development for seeing the need to empower the citizens with the required knowledge and skills to boost their different businesses which will in turn boost the economy of the State.
“As an NGO, we offer unique training with some interesting principles, we have a mechanism to monitor and evaluate their individual and collective progress.
“Interweave Solutions is ranked first in the world with over 70,000 graduates, it’s in 84 countries of the world with success stories and databases to ensure success so participants are indeed in safe hands”, he added
Also speaking, the Cross River State Director for Cooperatives, Esther Obaji thanked the state government and the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development for having the people of the state at heart and seeing the need to carry out the training, enumerating the very many advantages that will come with it while charging the participants to give in their best knowing that they were selected amongst many for the exercise which is indeed a rare privilege.
On her part, Ekanem Henshaw, the HOLGA of Calabar Municipality LGA thanked the State Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu and the Honorable Commissioner for having this initiative, she reiterated that with the poor economy the country is facing today, business and entrepreneurship are what can help us strive as a people. She assured participants of safety and comfort throughout the 3-day training.
The Honorable Commissioner during the event was accompanied by, Mr Louis Ibok, the Director for Enterprise CRS, the CRS State Director for Interweave Solutions Mr Christopher Albert, and other Directors of the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development.
The 3-day training will cover interesting topics like; an Introduction and Overview of Core Business Skills, Financial Literacy and Business Planning, Marketing Strategies and Sales Techniques as well as Networking. Indeed the Ministry of Human Capital and Entrepreneurial Development under the watch/leadership of Hon. Kingsley Namgbe Egumi is leading the ride in human capacity building and empowerment.
