As a follow up to her support on the NotTooYoungToRun bill, the General Manager, Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau, Barr. Tutu Ekeng is set to launch the “Project Zero to Hero” an imitative of her NGO, Paradise Book and Investment Club in partnership with Calabar Blog, Sisters Impact Africa as well as renowned Poize Insider Network.
The goal of the project is to raise the spirit of enterprise amongst youths in the state and teach them how to invest at an early age #NotTooYoungToInvest.
In an interview held at her office, Barr. Tutu noted that the project will be launched in October this year and it is aimed at raising 100 young millionaires in the next 2 years using the entrepreneurship model but this project has a big twist which is an added advantage that will not only build millionaires but sustain them.
She noted that the problem with most entrepreneurship venture is always the aspect of sustainability. Asking how many of the popular YouWin beneficiaries had got it right and multiplied the millions they were given. The General manager noted that most of the problem lies in lack of self development and proper coaching and mentoring for the entrepreneurs, a problem which her project will tackle vigorously.
“Our focus is on smart capacity building, intellectual capacity, business development skills, ICT skills, cosmetics and beauty skills, exchange programs, and much more, we want to build millionaires that will last”, She stated.
She used the opportunity to solicit for participation of strong mentors and partners from all sectors to be part of the project.
Barr. Tutu also disclosed that she draws her strong inspiration to build up youths from her boss, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade and very strongly from her late mother, Her Excellency, Lady Cecilia Eyo Ekpenyong the first female deputy governor of Cross River State, a philanthropist par excellence and set the pace for women in political empowerment as well as being an astute educator.
Lauding her boss the governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade for his deep vision to make the state the destination for investment in Africa despite the economic downturn.
She commended his giant investment projects like the 260km super highway, 148km Nfum-Ogoja-Obudu Ranch Road, Eastern Boki-Western Boki Link Road, Bakassi Deep Seaport, Cross River Garment Factory; Calabar Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Company, and the Calabar Rice City.
According to Barr. Tutu, “Governor Ayade is the most youth friendly governor, he has given the youth the confidence to come out and achieve with the most youth based cabinet.”
