No fewer than 20,000 youths from Cross River are set to benefit from various empowerment schemes being developed by the state Youth Empowerment Scheme.

The Chairman of the scheme, Dr Kalita Aruku, made the disclosure in an interview with the newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday.

Aruku asserted that the scheme is designed to empower the youth in line with their strengths and needs.

The Chairman said that the scheme is built around seven thematic areas, where these youths would be productively engaged and empowered.

He listed the areas to include the creative industry, agriculture, sports, transport, skills acquisition, small-scale businesses, and education.

Kalita explained that under the agricultural scheme, young people would be trained and empowered with various agricultural products, and would also be provided with off-takers.

Similarly, he listed poultry, piggery, fishery, and crop cultivation as the main focus in the agricultural sector.

He said that the beneficiaries in the fishery section will be provided with fingerlings and some funds to start up after training, while those in poultry will be given birds and funds as well.

“Perhaps I need to add here that the beneficiaries of the fishery part will also be provided with artificial ponds and feeds.

“For the crop cultivation, our focus will be on cassava and maize because of their high demand. High-yielding, improved-variety cassava stems will be given to the beneficiaries.

“Same applies to maize, in addition to engaging a flour mill, which will be the offtaker in this regard.”

In the creative industry, the chairman stated that young people would be trained in cinematography, directing, producing, scriptwriting, and acting.

He explained that, aside from empowering the youth, this aspect of the scheme is designed to make Calabar a top destination for film production.

“We can’t be a hub for tourism without adding this aspect of the creative industry to it. Music is also part of this,” he noted.

For small-scale businesses, Aruku said beneficiaries would be equipped with basic equipment to upscale their operations.

Speaking on the issue of funding, Aruku, while acknowledging the challenge, noted that Governor Bassey Otu is committed and passionate about the scheme.

“Of course, it may interest you to know that youth remain one of the central focuses of the governor’s people-first mantra,” he stated.