Cross River State Supports 5,350 Entrepreneurs with Grants

A total of 5,350 micro, small, and medium enterprises in Cross River State have received support through cash grants, skills acquisition, and capacity-building programs under state and Federal Government initiatives. Great Ogban, the Director-General of the Cross River State Micro Enterprise Development Agency, announced this during the Manufacturing and MSME Town Hall Meeting at the Dome, Calabar Municipality Garden.

The interventions are designed to reach businesses across the state’s three senatorial districts. Ogban reported that SMEDAN has trained 2,500 participants, while 2,000 others benefited from separate interventions, with 500 receiving ₦500,000 grants each.

He noted that beneficiaries are effectively using the support to expand their businesses. Additionally, local businesses accessed low-interest loans and grants, including a ₦200 million MSME intervention.

Governor Bassey Otu was commended for providing 1,000 free Corporate Affairs Commission business registrations, which eased the formalization of businesses. Ogban called for continued collaboration between state and Federal Governments to sustain economic growth.