Gov. Eno acknowledging cheers from crowd of some beneficiaries.
By Anietie Akpan
It was another rain of empowerments on Thursday, May 8, as 677 people in Itu and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Akwa Ibom State smiled home with N303 million cash, working kits and vehicles at the ongoing Town Square Meeting and Empowerment Series.
In a release from the Media Unit, Office of the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Thursday, out of this number, 108 farmers in Itu, and 115 farmers from Ibiono Ibom got the Farmers Grant which range from N500,000 to N1 million.
184 people in Itu and 125 in Ibiono Ibom were beneficiaries of the Arise Traders Grant while 135 people from the two LGAs were rewarded under the ARISE Equipment Support Scheme with equipment ranging from hairdressing machines, welding tools, sewing machines, generating plants and other forms of equipment.
Four beneficiaries from the two local government areas were on the podium for N5m each under the ARISE MSME Grant, while four buses and two cars were given to six people in the two LGAs..
Addressing the people, Governor Umo Eno said, “We have disbursed from my record, N303 million naira to 677 beneficiaries for various grants, farmers grants, business grants, MSMEs, equipment, bus, cars and mini buses.
One of the beneficiaries.
“Please let me say this, you will not get this grant twice. So if God has given you this opportunity, use it well. Use it and know that by next year it will be someone else’s turn. Because this thing is turn by turn”.
The Governor who took time to de-emphasize the political partisanship in the allocation of empowerment schemes, insisted that he is a governor running a government for the benefit of all and pledged to do more.
He took time to correct the notion by Senator Ita Enang that, APC members were sidelined in the empowerment schemes saying, “I encourage our youths to take advantage of the employment portal. We have advertised employment now. Please apply, because when we finish interview, you won’t come and tell me they didn’t call my party. Please apply.
“And when you go for any interview, if anybody asks you which party you belong, please send me a text because so long as you are an Akwa Ibomite and you are qualified, don’t tell anybody your party, tell them that you belong to Akwa Ibom party.”
The Governor used the opportunity to echo the essence of the town square meeting as an opportunity to render account to the people.
Excited ARISE women.
“There are 12 roads in Ibiono Ibom, seven in Itu, apart from roads, we have done hospitals, we have done schools, we have done compassionate homes, we have done water projects, and particularly targeting the rural communities”, the Governor added.
The Secretary to the State Government , Prince Enobong Uwah, who set the tone for the event, assured the people that the Governor was fulfilling his promise of rendering account to the people and assisting small and medium scale businesses to grow.
Presenting the Needs document of the constituency, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Kufre Edidem, commended Governor Eno for his programmes and projects and expressed the hope that the new projects, if executed in the next fiscal year, will further improve the quality of life for his people.
High-points of the occasion was the adoption of Governor Eno as the sole candidate for the people of the two local government areas for the 2027 Governorship election, following a motion by Hon Moses Essien of Ibiono Ibom State Constituency and seconded by Hon Idongesit Ituen from Itu.
Earlier, the Chairmen of Itu/Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas in their welcome address delivered by Mr Ubong Nkutt of Itu, thanked the Governor for his remarkable works in the two LGAs and pledged their unshifting support to the Governor.
The new Admn. block of Itu LGA.
”It is with great pleasure that we welcome His Excellency to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency. We are so proud of you. We are happy to have a pragmatic leader like you, that’s why we are emulating your steps.
“We want to use this opportunity to welcome you to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency. Since we are men of very few words, we want to pledge that ours will be demonstrated by support.”
Goodwill messages were also presented by the House of Representatives Member, Barr Ime Okon, Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Henry Archibong, former SSG, Obongawan Grace Ekong and Senator Ita Enang as well as the Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom, Akuku Ime Udousoro Inyang.
They praised the leadership prowess of Governor Eno and pledged constant support to him beyond his first term.
The Governor had earlier inaugurated a new administrative block executed by the Chairman of Itu local governments area, Mr Ubong Nkutt, charging all chairmen to perform well in office to justify the expectations of their people.