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By David Odama
The Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF), Abuja, has applauded the MSME initiative programs of the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, designed to support and encourage young entrepreneurs .
The media practitioners in a statement issued in Abuja by its Chairman, Mrs. Francisca Ogar described the programme as a sustainable and people-oriented intervention that departs from the traditional approach of mass distribution of motorcycles and tricycles.
According to the statement, since 2025, details of the programme have featured in the media through activist and media personality, Agba Jalingo, who has been providing insights into its structure and objectives.
CROSSJOF, futher adds that the limited publicity surrounding the initiative may be due to its unconventional nature, as it focuses on building entrepreneurial capacity rather than offering short-term handouts.
It further explained that the MSME Support Programme targets 950 beneficiaries in its first two phases, with 475 beneficiaries per phase, while phases three and four are expected to follow.
Under the programme’s framework, beneficiaries are required to undergo a compulsory one-week training at Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs) located in Calabar, Ikom, and Ogoja. Upon completion, beneficiaries in the formal sector receive grants ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦500,000, while those in the informal sector receive between ₦100,000 and ₦150,000.
The Forum further disclosed that beneficiaries are encouraged to receive business equipment and tools rather than cash, except in cases where items are perishable or unavailable, in which case funds are disbursed directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Quoting Agba Jalingo, CROSSJOF noted that the selection process is transparent and free from political interference. Jalingo reportedly assured applicants that Senator Owan Enoh, who funds the programme, has not influenced the selection of beneficiaries or nominated candidates, insisting that all selections are based strictly on verified business proposals.
Special consideration, the statement added, is given to persons with verified disabilities, citing the case of a deaf and dumb graduate of the University of Calabar who has worked as a photographer for nearly two decades but lacks modern equipment to expand his business.
CROSSJOF applauded the Minister for what it described as a thoughtful and inclusive empowerment strategy, noting that the initiative is targeted at genuine entrepreneurs seeking to stabilize and grow their businesses.
The Forum urged other public office holders to adopt similar sustainable approaches to economic empowerment in their constituencies.
