CUSO International to create 4,500 youth enterprises in C’River

DETERMINED to create employment and take the youths off the streets, CUSO International is to establish 4, 500 youth enterprises in Cross River State.

The programme, which is in partnership with the Canadian Government, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA  Canada) and the Cross River State Government, will be run by CUSO International “over the next four years…to create 4, 500 new youth enterprises in these sector while expanding 500 existing enterprises”.

Briefing newsmen at the weekend in Calabar on the celebration of International Youth Day with the theme: “Youth Civic Engagement”, the Project Director, CUSO International, Christopher Breauel said; “We will create 2,000 new jobs in the natural resources sectors”.

He stated that the core feature of the initiative is the transferring of skills and monitoring that will occur by coupling experienced Nigerian and Canadian professionals with motivated and talented Nigerian youths.

Breauel maintained that “more than ever before, meaningful engagement and participation of youths is essential to achieve sustainable human development the world over. Unfortunately, the opportunities for youths to engage politically, economically and socially are often low or non-existent”.

He noted that it was in view of this that the Canadian government and others by embarking on the youth enterprise programme for engagement through the Youth Leadership Entrepreneurship Access and Development Initiative. designed to empower the youths of Cross River State with the knowledge, skills and confidence to start their own business in the natural resources sector”.