Cross River State Government is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Dantata Group to create 20 , 000 agro – based jobs for young people in the state .
The state governor , Prof . Ben Ayade, disclosed this when officials from the Dantata group and the CBN visited him .
The governor said , “ The meeting between CBN and Dantata group and indeed Cross River State is to cement a factor and create opportunity first for livestock, cattle and poultry .
“ I have made an offer of job opportunities to 20 , 000 young people with immediate effect but you are actually going to be your own employer .
“ We will provide the money ; we have signed an agreement with CBN , they will provide us money to support 20 ,000 young farmers.”
The young farmers, he said , would be deployed to cotton production , livestock, maize and soya beans farming , rice farming , cocoa processing , groundnut cultivation among others .
Ayade said the state and Dantata group would set up an abbatoir in Obudu cattle ranch ‘ aimed at growing cattle , production of beef and exporting it within the West African sub region’.
He said his administration was taking the lead in agro – industrialisation because ‘ this is the only way we can create jobs and reduce youth restiveness and allow young people to realise their full potential ’ .
