At a media and stakeholders’ engagement in Calabar on Wednesday, the 29th Day of April 2026, former Cross River Commissioner for Health and ex-Deputy National Coordinator of the National Cash Transfer Office, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, decried the state’s low participation in the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, revealing that only about 150 youths have registered. The engagement, which took place yesterday, April 29, 2026, at Prof. Eyo Ita House, brought together key stakeholders across government, finance, and the development sector to chart a collaborative path toward job creation and innovation. A renewed push to tackle unemployment through innovation was also highlighted, with a strong focus on identifying and supporting unconventional innovators, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from marginalised communities. Speaking during the event, Catherine emphasized that the initiative is designed to promote practical, community-driven solutions th...
Cross River Youths, Students Demand Inclusive Representation, Endorse New Candidate for House of Reps Seat
Youth leaders under the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South Local Government Areas, in collaboration with university students from the constituency, have declared a loss of confidence in the current member representing the federal constituency at the House of Representatives. The declaration was made on April 29, 2026, during a joint press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre, Calabar. The group cited lack of bursary opportunities, poor youth inclusion and what they described as weak engagement with constituents as key reasons for their stance. Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Comrade Sebastian Edet Ekpenyong, former Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, said the youths were dissatisfied with the level of democratic dividends and alleged marginalisation in governance processes. He stressed that the time had come for a generational transition, noting that the youths would n...