The COLE’ctive Initiative has launched a structured creative enterprise empowerment programme aimed at equipping youths across Rivers State with entrepreneurial skills, market access and organised platforms for sustainable growth.
Founder of the initiative,

Tonye Cole, said in a statement that the programme goes beyond conventional training schemes by establishing a statewide Creative Enterprise Framework known as COLE2Crea8.

According to him, the framework is designed to transform creative talent into scalable businesses by integrating skills development, enterprise support, media visibility and civic participation within a coordinated system.

He explained that the programme recognises the creative sector—including arts, fashion, music, film, design, crafts and digital content—as structured economic infrastructure capable of driving job creation and inclusive growth.

“Creativity is not a side economy; it is a serious driver of jobs, identity and opportunity,” Cole said.

Unlike short-term empowerment projects, COLE2Crea8 is structured as a pipeline that links training to enterprise incubation, collaboration hubs, brand visibility and access to markets. The initiative will operate across all 319 wards of Rivers State, fostering grassroots engagement and shared platforms for creative entrepreneurs.

Cole said the objective is to organise and scale creative talent into viable enterprises that generate sustainable income while strengthening civic inclusion and economic participation.

At full scale, the programme is projected to engage 319,000 creatives and aspiring entrepreneurs across the state, positioning Rivers State as a hub for a structured and competitive creative economy.

The initiative is expected to formalise and expand the state’s creative ecosystem by converting informal talent into growth-oriented enterprises with long-term economic impact.