CALABAR– The Cross River State Government (CRSG) honoured fourteen outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs, from agriculture to digital media, at the second edition of the People-First Enterprise Awards, held in Calabar on Tuesday NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Organized by the state’s Microfinance and Enterprise Agency (MEDA), the ceremony recognized excellence across a diverse range of sectors, underscoring the administration’s broad-based support for private enterprise under Governor Bassey Otu’s “People First Agenda.”
The Director-General of MEDA, Mr. Great Ogban Usetu, set the tone in his opening address, declaring the event “the living proof that when we place people first, enterprises do not just survive, but they thrive, and our state transforms from promise to prosperity.”
Winners spanned the spectrum of the state’s economy. In a notable tie, Alexis Newton and UT Martin shared the top prize in the competitive Agriculture & Value Chain category. The Tourism & Hospitality award was claimed by Queenieez Kitchen, while Ajeboh Clothing and Branding won for Fashion & Styling.
The awards also highlighted modern sectors, with Patrick Dominic winning for Content Creation & Film Making and CalabarGist taking the prize for Media & Journalism. Other winners included Now Now Logistics (Transportation), Janet’s Touch Events (Event Management), and Hogis Fitness (Health & Wellness).
Chairman of the MEDA Board, Mr. Essesien Edem, addressed the awardees directly, stating, “You are going to be the role models of MEDA to others who are coming on board.” He emphasized that the winners had earned their recognition through rigorous processes, including training and business plan development.
The ceremony also served as a platform for a major policy announcement, with DG Usetu revealing an upcoming ₦1 billion matching fund—a partnership between the state, Sterling Bank, and SMEDAN—to be disbursed to entrepreneurs at single-digit interest.
The event was attended by a host of prominent figures, including Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh (who represented the state governor, Mr Otu) and the Commissioner for Information Dr. Eramus Ekpang, reflecting its significance within the state’s political and economic landscape.
Feelers suggest that by celebrating entrepreneurs from fabricators to filmmakers, the 2025 People-First Enterprise Awards reinforced the state’s commitment to fostering an ecosystem where innovation is recognized as the cornerstone of economic progress.
