By Joseph Erunke

In a sweeping move to transform Rivers State’s creative energy into structured economic power, no fewer than 319 entrepreneurs are set to undergo empowerment training under the COLE2Crea8 initiative.

The programme, spearheaded by the founder of COLE’ctive and 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye Cole, is designed to reposition creativity as a formidable economic force capable of generating jobs, boosting enterprise and expanding inclusive opportunities across the state.

In a statement issued yesterday, Cole revealed that the initiative will operate across all 319 wards of Rivers State, targeting talents in arts, fashion, music, film, design, crafts and digital content.

He described the creative sector not merely as a cultural expression but as a largely untapped economic engine with the potential to reshape livelihoods.

“COLE2Crea8 reframes creativity as productive infrastructure rather than informal activity,” Cole declared. “Creativity is not a side economy; it is a serious driver of jobs, identity and opportunity. COLE2Crea8 connects talent to structure, markets and growth.”

Beyond training 319 entrepreneurs in its first phase, the initiative carries an ambitious long-term vision: to engage 319,000 creatives and creative entrepreneurs statewide, establish 319 creative enterprise hubs and networks, and integrate storytelling and marketplaces into 319 mobile TV and digital platforms.

Cole explained that the programme is structured to move creatives beyond isolated talent expression into coordinated enterprise development.

By linking skills acquisition, visibility and access to markets, COLE2Crea8 aims to build a coherent creative economy pipeline that supports collaboration, monetisation and scalability.

Rather than treating creative work as informal or peripheral, the scheme seeks to institutionalise it, embedding it within civic participation, enterprise development and media ecosystems.

“At scale, COLE2Crea8 is about turning creativity into livelihoods,” he said. “It builds bridges between talent, enterprise and markets.”

With youth unemployment and economic diversification remaining pressing concerns in Rivers State, the initiative signals a strategic shift toward harnessing the state’s vibrant creative community as a driver of sustainable growth — one ward at a time.