The Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) has engaged key international development partners at the United Nations House to foster high-impact collaborations aimed at empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and safeguarding local innovation.
During the strategic engagement, MEDA held bilateral talks with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to unlock new opportunities and resources for MSMEs. This is sequel to the visit by the UN team to Calabar in June, they underscored the UN’s commitment to strengthening state-level capacities through its Integrated Smart State Program.
Under this initiative, the UN aligns its technical and financial resources directly with the state’s self-defined economic priorities, co-building sustainable solutions tailored to local needs.
“This collaborative framework allows us to directly address the core needs of our business community,” said Great Ogban, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, MEDA. “By aligning our state’s priorities with the global expertise of WIPO and the UNDP, we are creating an environment where MSMEs can innovate securely and scale effectively.”
In addition, MEDA met with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to establish frameworks for protecting the intellectual property rights of local businesses. The WIPO Admin Representative, Aje Adofikwu, reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to partner with the state, highlighting the critical role IP protection plays in driving economic growth and commercial scalability for entrepreneurs.
MEDA remains committed to leveraging global networks to enhance state enterprise ecosystems, attract targeted support, and foster long-term economic prosperity.
