The Cross River State government has dispatched a second batch of 200 repentant Bakassi militants to Nasarawa State for a comprehensive two-week agricultural training program, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 400.
Patrick Egbede, the State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, made this announcement in Calabar as the militants departed in a convoy after being addressed and profiled by the State Security Adviser, Major General Obongha Ubi (retd).
According to Egbede, the first batch of 200 militants had already completed the Innovative and Integrated Agricultural Value Chain Training program a few months earlier. The all-expenses-paid initiative is part of Governor Bassey Otu's 'People First' agenda, designed to be inclusive of all segments of society.
"This program aims to lay a solid foundation for an aggressive agricultural revolution in Cross River State that will boost our economy and increase employment opportunities, particularly among our youth," Egbede explained.
The commissioner further revealed that upon completion of the training, participants would receive empowerment packages from the state government to facilitate their entry into productive agricultural ventures. This support is expected to promote wealth creation and potentially transform the former militants into employers of labor.
"The training program is comprehensive, covering every aspect of modern agricultural practice. We are confident that these 400 beneficiaries will have opportunities to become self-reliant and may never wish to return to militancy," he added.
Major General Ubi, addressing the departing trainees, urged them to reciprocate the governor's gesture by being good ambassadors of Cross River State and adhering strictly to the rules governing the training. He cautioned that a monitoring team from the state government would maintain vigilance to identify any form of misconduct.
In response, the trainees pledged their loyalty and commitment to the program, promising to bring honor to the state through their participation and subsequent agricultural endeavors.
This initiative represents a significant step in the rehabilitation of former militants from the Bakassi region, offering them alternative livelihoods through agricultural entrepreneurship.
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